4.3 Article

The NKG2D-IL-15 signaling pathway contributes to T-cell mediated pathology in inflammatory myopathies

Journal

ONCOTARGET
Volume 6, Issue 41, Pages 43230-43243

Publisher

IMPACT JOURNALS LLC
DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.6462

Keywords

NKG2D; IL-15; polymyositis; idiopathic inflammatory myopathies; T cell activation; Pathology Section

Funding

  1. German ministry of education and research (BMBF, Bonn, Germany) [01GM1113A]

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NKG2D is an activating receptor on T cells, which has been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. T cells are critically involved in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) and have been proposed as specific therapeutic targets. However, the mechanisms underlying T cell-mediated progressive muscle destruction in IIM remain to be elucidated. We here determined the involvement of the NKG2D - IL-15 signaling pathway. Primary human myoblasts expressed NKG2D ligands, which were further upregulated upon inflammatory stimuli. In parallel, shedding of the soluble NKG2D ligand MICA (sMICA) decreased upon inflammation potentially diminishing inhibition of NKG2D signaling. Membrane-related expression of IL-15 by myoblasts induced differentiation of naive CD8(+) T cells into highly activated, cytotoxic CD8(+)NKG2D(high) T cells demonstrating NKG2D-dependent lysis of myoblasts in vitro. CD8(+)NKG2D(high) T cell frequencies were increased in the peripheral blood of polymyositis (PM) patients and correlated with serum creatinine kinase concentrations, while serum sMICA levels were not significantly changed. In muscle biopsy specimens from PM patients expression of the NKG2D ligand MICA/B was upregulated, IL-15 was expressed by muscle cells, CD68(+) macrophages as well as CD4(+) T cells, and CD8(+)NKG2D(+) cells were frequently detected within inflammatory infiltrates arguing for a local signaling circuit in the inflammatory muscle milieu. In conclusion, the NKG2D - IL-15 signaling pathway contributes to progressive muscle destruction in IIM potentially opening new therapeutic avenues.

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