IL-17-producing CD4+ T cells are increased in early, active axial spondyloarthritis including patients without imaging abnormalities

Abstract

IL-17-producing CD4(+) T cells are increased in patients with early active axial SpA both with and without MRI abnormalities. This finding shows that the frequency of IL-17-producing CD4(+) T cells is enhanced in the early stages of disease.

Biomarkers, imaging and disease activity indices in patients with early axial spondyloarthritis: the Italian arm of the SpondyloArthritis-Caught-Early (SPACE) Study

“…Appropriate anti TNFα treatment can modify disease progression in axSpA as well as in nraxSpA (34,35). Although not confirmed by all studies (14), in addition to TNFα, the IL-23/IL-17 immune axis appears to be an important pathway in the pathogenesis of SpA and in DA (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)36). IL-17 is the signature pro-inflammatory cytokine of a unique subset of T-helper cells, called Th17.…”

“…Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) is a crucial cytokine that plays an essential role during the inflammatory response in SpA (10). According to recent findings, the (IL)-23/IL-17 immune axis also appears to play an important role in its pathogenesis (11)(12)(13)(14)(15). Several investigators have begun to examine serum and plasma biomarkers to assess their association with disease activity (DA) (16,17), since erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), commonly considered acute-phase proteins reflecting systemic inflammation, often prove to be unrelated to inflammation in axSpA (18)(19)(20).…”

“…Th17 cells differentiate from naïve T cells in a multistep process depending, first of all, on the presence of TGF-β, IL-6 and IL-1 inducing the expression of the Th17 master transcription factor called ROR-C. Another pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-23 is crucial for stabilizing the Th17 phenotype and the expansion of Th17 populations. Other cells of both the adaptive and innate immune systems are activated by IL-23 and capable of producing IL-17 (11)(12)(13)(14)(15). These findings have led to defining the IL-23/IL-17 axis involved in mucosal and skin barrier function and in defense against germs, as well as playing a role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune and several inflammatory diseases, such as axSpA (37).…”

“…These findings have led to defining the IL-23/IL-17 axis involved in mucosal and skin barrier function and in defense against germs, as well as playing a role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune and several inflammatory diseases, such as axSpA (37). The number of IL-17+T cells in peripheral blood is higher in AS patients with respect to that in healthy individuals (12,37). Interestingly, the number of IL-17 peripheral T cells is likewise higher in patients with early active axSpA both with and without MRI abnormalities (12).…”

New Possibilities of Pharmacotherapy for Immunoinflammatory Rheumatic Diseases: A Focus on Inhibitors of Interleukin-17

“…Установлено также, что в крови и синови-альной ткани пациентов с АС наблюдается увеличение количества KIR3DL2+ Th17-клеток, взаимодействующих с гомодимером HLA-B27 [50], что способствует «выжива-нию» и усилению синтеза ИЛ17 этими клетками. В недав-них исследованиях было показано, что в периферической крови пациентов с ранним (неаксиальным) СпА отмеча-ется увеличение числа Th17-клеток «памяти», экспресси-рующих T-клеточный рецептор (ТКР) αβ + CCD161 [51]. Примечательно, что увеличение концентрации ИЛ17А и числа Th17-клеток наблюдается преимущественно у мужчин, но не у женщин, страдающих СпА [52], и не за-висит от концентрации половых гормонов.…”