A Naturally Occurring, Soluble Antagonist of Human IL-23 Inhibits the Development and In Vitro Function of Human Th17 Cells

Th17 CD4 cells are critical to inflammation. Their secretion of IL-17 drives inflammation in human diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease. Differentiation of mature Th17 cells depends on stimulation with IL-6, TGF-beta, and IL-21 and the induction of ROR gamma t, but IL-23 is essential to Th17 phenotype, stability, and function. Induction of Th17 cells can be antagonized by IL-4 or IFN-gamma, but mechanisms through which terminal differentiation can be inhibited have not been identified. Human IL-23R alpha (HuIL23R alpha)-chain mRNA transcripts exist that lack exon 9 (Delta 9); these are translated to a truncated receptor containing the entire external domain. This soluble variant of the HuIL23R alpha-chain antagonizes Th17 maturation. It is secreted and present at low levels in the blood. It represents 10% of HuIL23R alpha-chain mRNA, binds IL-23 in solution, and inhibits the phosphorylation of STAT3 caused by IL-23. In in vitro Th17 cell differentiation experiments, Delta 9 inhibits the production of the Th17-associated cytokines IL-17A and IL-17F. Delta 9 does not bind IL-12; thus, it is a specific inhibitor of IL-23 and a modulator of Th17 cells. Our results indicate that this soluble form of HuIL23R alpha likely functions to regulate Th17 activity. The Journal of Immunology, 2010, 185: 7302-7308.