IL-23 is critical for induction of arthritis, osteoclast formation, and maintenance of bone mass.

The role of IL-23 in the development of arthritis and bone metabolism was studied using systemic IL-23 exposure in adult mice via hydrodynamic delivery of IL-23 minicircle DNA in vivo and in mice genetically deficient in IL-23. Systemic IL-23 exposure induced chronic arthritis, severe bone loss, and myelopoiesis in the bone marrow and spleen, which resulted in increased osteoclast differentiation and systemic bone loss. The effect of IL-23 was partly dependent on CD4(+) T cells, IL-17A, and TNF, but could not be reproduced by overexpression of IL-17A in vivo. A key role in the IL-23-induced arthritis was made by the expansion and activity of myeloid cells. Bone marrow macrophages derived from IL-23p19(-/-) mice showed a slower maturation into osteoclasts with reduced tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive cells and dentine resorption capacity in in vitro osteoclastogenesis assays. This correlated with fewer multinucleated osteoclast-like cells and more trabecular bone volume and number in 26-wk-old male IL-23p19(-/-) mice compared with control animals. Collectively, our data suggest that systemic IL-23 exposure induces the expansion of a myeloid lineage osteoclast precursor, and targeting IL-23 pathway may combat inflammation-driven bone destruction as observed in rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune arthritides.

Pharmacological characterization of the chemokine receptor, hCCR1 in a stable transfectant and differentiated HL-60 cells: antagonism of hCCR1 activation by MIP-1beta.

C-C chemokine receptor-1 (CCR1) has been implicated in mediating a variety of inflammatory conditions including multiple sclerosis and organ rejection. Although originally referred to as the MIP-1alpha/RANTES receptor, CCR1 is quite promiscuous and can be activated by numerous chemokines. We used radioligand binding and [35S]-GTPgammaS exchange assays in membranes from a cell line transfected to express CCR1 (Ba/F3-hCCR1) to characterize a panel of chemokines (HCC-1, MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta, MIP-1delta, MPIF-1, MCP-2, MCP-3, and RANTES) as CCR1 ligands. In this recombinant model, these chemokines displaced 125I-MIP-1alpha with a wide range of potencies and, with the exception of MCP-2, acted as full agonists in stimulating [35S]-GTPgammaS exchange. We then assessed the utility of HL-60 cells cultured with known differentiating agents (PMA, DMSO, dibutyryl-cAMP or retinoic acid) for investigating CCR1 pharmacology. In [35S]-GTPgammaS exchange assays, membranes from cells cultured with retinoic acid (4-6 days) were the most responsive to activation by MIP-1alpha and MPIF-1. FACS analysis and comparative pharmacology confirmed that these activities were mediated by CCR1. Using [35S]-GTPgammaS exchange assays, intracellular calcium flux and/or whole cell chemotaxis assays in HL-60(Rx) cells, we validated that MIP-1alpha was the most potent CCR1 ligand (MIP-1alpha>MPIF-1>RANTES>or=MIP-1beta) although the ligands differed in their efficacy as agonists. MPIF-1 was the more efficacious (MPIF-1>RANTES=MIP-1alpha>>MIP-1beta). 125I-MIP-1beta binding in Ba/F3-hCCR1 and HL-60(Rx) membranes was competitively displaced by MIP-1alpha, MPIF-1 and MIP-1beta. The binding K(i) for these chemokines with 125I-MIP-1beta were essentially identical in the two membrane systems. Lastly, MIP-1beta antagonized [35S]-GTPgammaS exchange, Ca2+ flux and chemotaxis in HL-60(Rx) cells in response to robust agonists such as MIP-1alpha, RANTES and MPIF-1. Based on our results, we propose that MIP-1beta could function as an endogenous inhibitor of CCR1 function.

The pyrimidinergic P2Y6 receptor mediates a novel release of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in monocytic cells stimulated with UDP.

The human P2Y6 receptor (hP2Y6) is a member of the G protein-coupled pyrimidinergic P2 receptor family that responds specifically to the extracellular nucleotide uridine diphosphate (UDP). Recently, the hP2Y6 receptor has been reported to mediate monocyte IL-8 production in response to UDP or lipopolysaccharide (LPS), but the role of hP2Y6 in regulating other pro-inflammatory cytokines or mediators is largely unknown. We demonstrate here that UDP specifically induces soluble TNF-alpha and IL-8 production in a promonocytic U937 cell line stably transfected with hP2Y6. However, we did not detect IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, and PGE2 in the conditioned media from the same cell line. These results distinguish UDP/P2Y6 signaling from LPS signaling. Interestingly, UDP induces the production of IL-8, but not TNF-alpha, in human astrocytoma 1321N1 cell lines stably transfected with hP2Y6. Therefore, the immune effect of UDP/P2Y6 signaling on the production of proinflammatory cytokines is selective and dependent on cell types. We further identify that UDP can also induce the production of proinflammatory chemokines MCP-1 and IP-10 in hP2Y6 transfected promonocytic U937 cell lines, but not astrocytoma 1321N1 cell lines stably transfected with hP2Y6. From the Taqman analysis, UDP stimulation significantly upregulates the mRNA levels of IL-8, IP-10, and IL-1beta, but not TNF-alpha. Taken together, these new findings expand the pro-inflammatory biology of UDP mediated by the P2Y6 receptor.

Blocking ion channel KCNN4 alleviates the symptoms of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice.

The KCNN4 potassium-ion channel has been reported to play an important role in regulating antigen-induced T cell effector functions in vitro. This study presents the first evidence that a selective KCNN4 blocker, TRAM-34, confers protection against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in the mouse model. Treatment with the KCNN4 blocker did not prevent infiltration of T cells in the spinal cord, but resulted in the reduction of both the protein and the message levels of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma as well as the message levels of several other pro-inflammatory molecules in the spinal cord. Plasma concentrations of TRAM-34 within a 24-h period were between the in vitro IC(50) and IC(90) values for the KCNN4 channel. The effect of TRAM-34 was reversible, as indicated by the development of clinical EAE symptoms within 48 h after withdrawal of treatment. In summary, our data support the idea that KCNN4 channels play a critical role in the immune response during the development of MOG-induced EAE in C57BL/6 mice.