Evidence for PI-3K-dependent migration of Th17-polarized cells in response to CCR2 and CCR6 agonists

J Leukoc Biol. 2008 Oct;84(4):1202-12. doi: 10.1189/jlb.0408234. Epub 2008 Jun 27.

Abstract

IL-17-producing Th cells (Th17) are a distinct subset of effector cells that bridge the innate and adaptive immune system and are implicated in autoimmune disease processes. CD4(+) splenocytes from DO11.10 mice were activated with OVA peptide(323-339) and maintained under Th17 polarization conditions, resulting in significantly higher proportions of IL-17(+) T cells compared with nonpolarized (Th0) cells. Th17-polarizing conditions significantly increased the proportion of cells expressing the chemokine receptors CCR2, CCR6, and CCR9 when compared with Th0 cells. In contrast, there was a significant decrease in the proportion of cells expressing CXCR3 under Th17-polarizing conditions compared with nonpolarizing conditions. The respective chemokine agonists for CCR2 (CCL2 and CCL12), CCR6 (CCL20), and CCR9 (CCL25) elicited migration and PI-3K-dependent signaling events in Th17-polarized cells, thus indicating that all three receptors were functionally and biochemically responsive. Furthermore, postmigration phenotypic analysis demonstrated that the agonists for CCR2 and CCR6, but not CCR9, stimulated a modest enrichment of IL-17(+) cells compared with the premigration population. Pan-isoform inhibitors of PI-3K/Akt signaling prevented CCR2- and CCR6-mediated, polarized Th17 cell migration in a concentration-dependent manner. The unique chemokine receptor expression pattern of Th17 cells and their corresponding PI-3K-dependent migratory responses are important for understanding the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and may provide opportunities for the application of CCR2 and CCR6 antagonists and PI-3K isoform-selective inhibitors in defined inflammatory settings.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / physiology
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Separation
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / immunology
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism*
  • Receptors, CCR2 / agonists
  • Receptors, CCR2 / physiology*
  • Receptors, CCR6 / agonists
  • Receptors, CCR6 / physiology*
  • Receptors, Chemokine / genetics
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Spleen / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / physiology*

Substances

  • CCR6 protein, mouse
  • Ccr2 protein, mouse
  • Cytokines
  • Receptors, CCR2
  • Receptors, CCR6
  • Receptors, Chemokine
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt