Autophagy regulates IL-23 secretion and innate T cell responses through effects on IL-1 secretion

J Immunol. 2012 Oct 15;189(8):4144-53. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1201946. Epub 2012 Sep 12.

Abstract

Autophagy controls IL-1β secretion by regulating inflammasome activation and by targeting pro-IL-1β for degradation. In this article, we show that inhibition of autophagy, either with the PI3K inhibitors 3-methyladenine, wortmannin, and LY294002 or with small interfering RNA against autophagy proteins augmented the secretion of IL-23 by human and mouse macrophages and dendritic cells in response to specific TLR agonists. This process occurred at the transcriptional level and was dependent on reactive oxygen species and IL-1R signaling; it was abrogated with an IL-1R antagonist or with IL-1-neutralizing Abs, whereas treatment with either rIL-1α or IL-1β induced IL-23 secretion. Dendritic cells treated with LPS and 3-methyladenine secreted enhanced levels of both IL-1β and IL-23, and supernatants from these cells stimulated the innate secretion of IL-17, IFN-γ, and IL-22 by γδ T cells. These data demonstrate that autophagy has a potentially pivotal role to play in the induction and regulation of inflammatory responses by innate immune cells, largely driven by IL-1 and its consequential effects on IL-23 secretion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenine / analogs & derivatives
  • Adenine / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Autophagy / immunology*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Transformed
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Female
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Interleukin-1alpha / metabolism*
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism*
  • Interleukin-23 / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • Up-Regulation / immunology

Substances

  • IL1B protein, human
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Interleukin-1alpha
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Interleukin-23
  • 3-methyladenine
  • Adenine