Precocious Interleukin 21 Expression in Naive Mice Identifies a Natural Helper Cell Population in Autoimmune Disease.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-3-2017

JAX Source

Cell Rep 2017 Oct 3; 21(1):208-221.

Volume

21

Issue

1

First Page

208

Last Page

221

ISSN

2211-1247

PMID

28978474

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2017.09.036

Abstract

Interleukin 21 (IL-21) plays key roles in humoral immunity and autoimmune diseases. It is known to function in mature CD4(+) T follicular B cell helper (TFH) cells, but its potential involvement in early T cell ontogeny is unclear. Here, we find that a significant population of newly activated thymic and peripheral CD4(+) T cells functionally expresses IL-21 soon after birth. This naturally occurring population, termed natural (n)TH21 cells, exhibits considerable similarity to mature TFH cells. nTH21 cells originating and activated in the thymus are strictly dependent on autoimmune regulator (AIRE) and express high levels of NUR77, consistent with a bias toward self-reactivity. Their activation/expansion in the periphery requires gut microbiota and is held in check by FoxP3(+) TREG cells. nTH21 cells are the major thymic and peripheral populations of IL-21(+) cells to expand in an IL-21-dependent humoral autoimmune disease. These studies link IL-21 to T cell ontogeny, self-reactivity, and humoral autoimmunity. Cell Rep 2017 Oct 3; 21(1):208-221.

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