Patients with cystic fibrosis have inducible IL-17+IL-22+ memory cells in lung draining lymph nodes.

Background IL-17 is an important cytokine signature of the T H differentiation pathway T H 17. This T-cell subset is crucial in mediating autoimmune disease or antimicrobial immunity in animal models, but its presence and role in human disease remain to be completely characterized. Objective We set out to determine the frequency of T H 17 cells in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), a disease in which there is recurrent infection with known pathogens. Methods Explanted lungs from patients undergoing transplantation or organ donors (CF samples = 18; non-CF, nonbronchiectatic samples = 10) were collected. Hilar nodes and parenchymal lung tissue were processed and examined for T H 17 signature by using immunofluorescence and quantitative real-time PCR. T cells were isolated and stimulated with antigens from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aspergillus species. Cytokine profiles and staining with flow cytometry were used to assess the reactivity of these cells to antigen stimulation. Results We found a strong IL-17 phenotype in patients with CF compared with that seen in control subjects without CF. Within this tissue, we found pathogenic antigen–responsive CD4 + IL-17 + cells. There were double-positive IL-17 + IL-22 + cells [T H 17(22)], and the IL-22 + population had a higher proportion of memory characteristics. Antigen-specific T H 17 responses were stronger in the draining lymph nodes compared with those seen in matched parenchymal lungs. Conclusion Inducible proliferation of T H 17(22) with memory cell characteristics is seen in the lungs of patients with CF. The function of these individual subpopulations will require further study regarding their development. T cells are likely not the exclusive producers of IL-17 and IL-22, and this will require further characterization.