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. 2018 May 1;59(6):2604-2614.
doi: 10.1167/iovs.18-24008.

Interaction Between CCR6+ Th17 Cells and CD34+ Fibrocytes Promotes Inflammation: Implications in Graves' Orbitopathy in Chinese Population

Sijie Fang  1   2   3   4 , Yazhuo Huang  1   2   3   4 , Xingtong Liu  1   2 , Sisi Zhong  1   2 , Ningjian Wang  5 , Binbin Zhao  3   4   6 , Yinwei Li  1   2 , Jing Sun  1   2 , Yang Wang  1   2 , Shuo Zhang  1   2 , Ping Gu  1   2 , Huifang Zhou  1   2 , Bin Li  2   3   4 , Xianqun Fan  1   2
Affiliations

Interaction Between CCR6+ Th17 Cells and CD34+ Fibrocytes Promotes Inflammation: Implications in Graves' Orbitopathy in Chinese Population

Sijie Fang et al. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. .

Abstract

Purpose: Recent reports suggest that Th17 immunity and bone marrow-derived CD34+ fibrocytes contribute to the pathogenesis of Graves' orbitopathy (GO). This study investigated interactions between Th17 cells and fibrocytes in GO inflammation in Chinese subjects.

Methods: Th17 cells and fibrocytes were derived from blood samples from Chinese GO patients and healthy controls. Proportions and phenotypes of Th17 cells, regulatory T cells (Tregs), and fibrocytes were examined by flow cytometry. Exogenous IL-17A was used to study inflammatory activity of fibrocytes from GO patients and control subjects. Coculture, quantitative RT-PCR, Luminex, and transwell assays were performed to investigate the relationship between Th17 cells and fibrocytes.

Results: CC-chemokine receptor 6 (CCR6+) Th17 cells were increased in both active (P < 0.001) and inactive (P < 0.05) GO patients, compared with healthy controls. There was a positive correlation between number of CCR6+ Th17 cells and GO clinical activity score (P < 0.0001, r = 0.8176). Further, CD34+ fibrocytes were increased in GO patients, with increased expression of IL-17RA (P < 0.05), CD80 (P < 0.05), and CD86 (P < 0.05). A decreased population of effector Treg cells (P < 0.01) and increased CTLA-4 expression on naïve Treg cells (P < 0.05) were observed in GO patients. IL-17A stimulated cytokine production in fibrocytes; GO fibrocytes exhibited more robust production than normal fibrocytes. Autologous Th17 cells promoted inflammatory and antigen-presenting functions of GO fibrocytes; conversely, fibrocytes enhanced Th17 cell-function and recruited Th17 cells in a macrophage inflammatory protein 3 (MIP-3)/CCR6-dependent manner.

Conclusions: The crosstalk between CCR6+ Th17 cells and fibrocytes plays a role in the pathogenesis of GO. Suppressing these interactions may be a candidate molecular target for therapeutic approaches of GO.

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