First Author | Ghilardi N | Year | 2004 |
Journal | J Immunol | Volume | 172 |
Issue | 5 | Pages | 2827-33 |
PubMed ID | 14978083 | Mgi Jnum | J:88235 |
Mgi Id | MGI:3029805 | Doi | 10.4049/jimmunol.172.5.2827 |
Citation | Ghilardi N, et al. (2004) Compromised humoral and delayed-type hypersensitivity responses in IL-23-deficient mice. J Immunol 172(5):2827-33 |
abstractText | The heterodimeric cytokine IL-23 consists of a private cytokine-like p19 subunit and a cytokine receptor-like subunit, p40, which is shared with IL-12. Previously reported IL-12p40-deficient mice have profound immune defects resulting from combined deficiency in both IL-12 and IL-23. To address the effects of specific IL-23 deficiency, we generated mice lacking p19 by gene targeting. These mice display no overt abnormalities but mount severely compromised T-dependent humoral immune responses. IL-23p19(-/-) mice produce strongly reduced levels of Ag-specific Igs of all isotypes, but mount normal T-independent B cell responses. In addition, delayed type hypersensitivity responses are strongly impaired in the absence of IL-23, indicating a defect at the level of memory T cells. T cells stimulated with IL-23-deficient APCs secrete significantly reduced amounts of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-17, and IL-23-deficient mice phenotypically resemble IL-17-deficient animals. Thus, IL-23 plays a critical role in T cell-dependent immune responses, and our data provide further support for the existence of an IL-23/IL-17 axis of communication between the adaptive and innate parts of the immune system. |