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Decoupling the role of RORγt in the differentiation and effector function of Th17 cells

ABSTRACT: RORgt is known to instruct the differentiation of Th17 cells that mediate the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. However, it remains unknown whether RORgt plays a distinct role in the differentiation and effector function of Th17 cells. Here we show that mutation of RORgt lysine 256, a ubiquitination site, to arginine (K256R) separates the RORgt role in these two functions. Preventing ubiquitination at K256 via arginine substitution does not affect RORgt-dependent thymocyte development and Th17 differentiation in vitro and in vivo, however, greatly impaired the pathogenesis of Th17 cell-mediated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Mechanistically, K256R mutation impairs RORgt to bind to and activate Runx1 expression critical for Th17-mediated EAE. Thus, RORgt regulates the effector function of Th17 cells in addition to Th17 differentiation. This work informs the development of RORgt-based therapies that specifically target the effector function of Th17 cells responsible for autoimmunity.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE211414 | GEO | 2022/10/26

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:CD4+ T helper lymphocytes that express interleukin-17 (Th17 cells) have critical roles in mouse models of autoimmunity, and there is mounting evidence that they also influence inflammatory processes in humans. Genome-wide association studies in humans have linked genes involved in Th17 cell differentiation and function with susceptibility to Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis1-3. Thus, the pathway towards differentiation of Th17 cells and, perhaps, of related innate lymphoid cells with similar effector functions4, 5, is an attractive target for therapeutic applications. Mouse and human Th17 cells are distinguished by expression of the retinoic acid receptor-related orphan nuclear receptor RORγt, which is required for induction of IL-17 transcription and for the manifestation of Th17-dependent autoimmune disease in mice6. By performing a chemical screen with an insect cell-based reporter system, we identified the cardiac glycoside digoxin as a specific inhibitor of RORγt transcriptional activity. Digoxin inhibited murine Th17 cell differentiation without affecting differentiation of other T cell lineages and was effective in delaying the onset and reducing the severity of autoimmune disease in mice. At high concentrations, digoxin is toxic for human cells, but non-toxic synthetic derivatives, 20,22-dihydrodigoxin-21,23-diol (Dig(dhd)) and digoxin-21-salicylidene (Dig(sal)), specifically inhibited induction of IL-17 in human CD4+ T cells. Using these small molecule compounds, we demonstrated that RORγt is imporant for the maintenance of IL-17 expression in mouse and human effector T cells. These data suggest that derivatives of digoxin can be used as chemical probes for development of RORγt-targeted therapeutic agents that attenuate inflammatory lymphocyte function and autoimmune disease. We performed gene expression profiling with total RNA samples isolated from DMSO- or digoxin-treated wildtype or RORγt-deficient cells cultured in Th17 conditions. Total RNA was extracted with TRIzol. RNA was labeled and hybridized to GeneChip Mouse Genome 430 2.0 arrays following the Affymetrix protocols. Data were analyzed in GeneSpring GX11.5.

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Decoupling the role of RORγt in the differentiation and effector function of Th17 cells

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