1. The role of interleukin-18 and interleukin-18 binding protein in K/BxN serum transfer-induced arthritis.
- Author
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Fauteux-Daniel S, Merlo Pich LM, Girard-Guyonvarc'h C, Caruso A, Rodriguez E, and Gabay C
- Subjects
- Animals, Mice, Endothelial Cells metabolism, Cytokines, RNA, Messenger, Interleukin-18 genetics, Interleukin-18 metabolism, Still's Disease, Adult-Onset
- Abstract
Background: Interleukin-18 is a proinflammatory cytokine, the activity of which is regulated by its natural inhibitor, IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP). Elevated circulating levels of IL-18 have been observed in patients with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) and adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD), two conditions associated with dysregulated innate immune responses. This study examines the expression and function of IL-18 and IL-18BP in K/BxN serum transfer arthritis (STA), a model that is uniquely dependent on innate immune responses., Methods: Naïve and serum transfer-induced arthritis (STA) wild-type (WT) mice were used to examine the articular levels of IL-18 and IL-18BP mRNA by RT-qPCR. The cellular sources of IL-18BP in the joints were determined by using Il18bp - tdTomato reporter knock-in mice. The incidence and severity of arthritis, including mRNA levels of different cytokines, were compared in IL-18BP or IL-18 knock-out (KO) mice and their WT littermates., Results: IL-18 and IL-18BP mRNA levels were significantly increased in arthritic as compared to normal joints. Synovial neutrophils, macrophages, and endothelial cells represented the cellular sources of IL-18BP in arthritic joints, whereas IL-18BP production was limited to endothelial cells in non-inflamed joints. The incidence and severity of arthritis were similar in IL-18BP KO and IL-18 KO compared to their WT littermates. Transcript levels of different inflammatory cytokines were not different in the two KO mouse lines compared to WT mice., Conclusion: Although IL-18 and IL-18BP levels were increased in arthritic joints, our results show that the IL-18/IL-18BP balance is not involved in the regulation of STA., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Fauteux-Daniel, Merlo Pich, Girard-Guyonvarc’h, Caruso, Rodriguez and Gabay.)
- Published
- 2023
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