Evidence for anti-inflammatory effects of C5a on the innate IL-17A/IL-23 axis

There is growing evidence that the complement activation product C5a positively or negatively regulates inflammatory functions. The studies presented here report that C5a exerts anti-inflammatory effects by altering production of the cytokines IL-17A and IL-23 during endotoxic shock in young adult male C57BL/6J mice and has similar effects on macrophages from the same mice. IL-17A and IL-23 both appeared in plasma during endotoxemia, and their neutralization improved survival. The relevant sources of IL-17A during endotoxemia were not CD4(+) cells, gamma delta T cells, or NK cells but CD11b(+)F4/80(+) macrophages. The addition in vitro of C5a to lipopolysaccharide-activated peritoneal macrophages dose dependently antagonized the production of IL-17A (IC50, 50-100 nM C5a) and IL-23 (IC50, 10 nM C5a). This suppression required the receptor C5aR, but was independent of the second C5a receptor, C5L2. Genetic absence of C5aR was associated with much higher levels of IL-17A and IL-23 during endotoxic shock. Mechanistically, C5a mediated its effects on the IL-17A/IL-23 axis in a 2-step process. C5a caused activation of the PI3K-Akt and MEK1/2-ERK1/2 pathways, resulting in induction of IL-10, which powerfully inhibited production of IL-17A and IL-23. These data identify previously unknown mechanisms by which the anaphylatoxin C5a limits acute inflammation and antagonizes the IL-17A/IL-23 axis.-Bosmann, M., Sarma, J. V., Atefi, G., Zetoune, F. S., Ward, P. A. Evidence for anti-inflammatory effects of C5a on the innate IL-17A/IL-23 axis. FASEB J. 26, 1640-1651 (2012). www.fasebj.org