T cells instruct myeloid cells to produce inflammasome-independent IL-1β and cause autoimmunity

The cytokine interleukin (IL)-1β is a key mediator of antimicrobial immunity as well as autoimmune inflammation. Production of IL-1β requires transcription by innate immune receptor signaling and maturational cleavage by inflammasomes. Whether this mechanism applies to IL-1β production seen in T cell-driven autoimmune diseases remains unclear. Here, we describe an inflammasome-independent pathway of IL-1β production that was triggered upon cognate interactions between effector CD4+ T cells and mononuclear phagocytes (MPs). The cytokine TNF produced by activated CD4+ T cells engaged its receptor TNFR on MPs, leading to pro-IL-1β synthesis. Membrane-bound FasL, expressed by CD4+ T cells, activated death receptor Fas signaling in MPs, resulting in caspase-8-dependent pro-IL-1β cleavage. The T cell-instructed IL-1β resulted in systemic inflammation, whereas absence of TNFR or Fas signaling protected mice from CD4+ T cell-driven autoimmunity. The TNFR–Fas–caspase-8-dependent pathway provides a mechanistic explanation for IL-1β production and its consequences in CD4+ T cell-driven autoimmune pathology. Pasare and colleagues describe an inflammasome-independent, TNFR–Fas–caspase-8-dependent pathway of IL-1β production triggered by cognate interactions between effector CD4+ T cells and mononuclear phagocytes.