HLA-DQ2-restricted gluten-reactive T cells produce IL-21 but not IL-17 or IL-22

• Published in: Mucosal immunology Vol. 3; no. 6; pp. 594 - 601
• Main Authors: Bodd, M, Ráki, M, Tollefsen, S, Fallang, L E, Bergseng, E, Lundin, K E A, Sollid, L M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Nature Publishing Group US 01.11.2010; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: 631/250/1619/554/1898; 631/45/127; 692/699/1503/1581/1357; Allergology; Antibodies; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - pathology; Celiac Disease - immunology; Cell Line; Gastroenterology; Gliadin - immunology; Gliadin - metabolism; Glutens - immunology; HLA-DQ Antigens - immunology; HLA-DQ Antigens - metabolism; Humans; Immunology; Interleukin-17 - metabolism; Interleukin-22; Interleukins - metabolism; Intestines - immunology; Intestines - pathology; Peptide Fragments - immunology; Peptide Fragments - metabolism
• DOI: 10.1038/mi.2010.36
• ISSN: 1933-0219

We have analyzed the production of the effector cytokines interleukin (IL)-17, IL-21, and IL-22 in gluten-reactive CD4 + T cells of celiac disease patients, either cultured from small intestinal biopsies or isolated from peripheral blood after an oral gluten challenge. Combining intracellular cytokine staining with DQ2-α-II gliadin peptide tetramer staining of intestinal polyclonal T-cell lines, we found that gluten-specific T cells produced interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and IL-21, but not IL-17 or IL-22, even if other T cells of the same lines produced these cytokines. Similarly, in DQ2-α-II-specific T cells in peripheral blood of gluten-challenged patients, very few stained for intracellular IL-17, whereas many cells stained for IFN-γ. We conclude that gluten-reactive T cells produce IL-21 and IFN-γ, but not IL-17. Their production of IL-21 suggests a role for this cytokine in the pathogenesis of celiac disease.