IL-17 Enhancement of the IL-6 Signaling Cascade in Astrocytes

Astrocytes have important physiological roles in CNS homeostasis and serve as a bridge between the CNS and immune system. IL-17 and IL-6 are important in many CNS disorders characterized by neuroinflammation. We examined the role of IL-17 on the IL-6 signaling cascade in primary astrocytes. IL-17 functioned in a synergistic manner with IL-6 to induce IL-6 expression in astrocytes. The synergistic effect involved numerous signaling pathways including NF-κB, JNK MAPK, and p38 MAPK. The NF-κB pathway inhibitor BAY-11, JNK inhibitor JNKi II, and p38 inhibitor SB203580 suppressed the synergistic effect of IL-6 and IL-17 on IL-6 expression. IL-17 synergized with IL-6 to enhance the recruitment of activated NF-κB p65, c-Fos, c-Jun, and the histone acetyltransferases CREB-binding protein and p300 to the IL-6 promoter in vivo to induce IL-6 transcription. This was accompanied by enhanced acetylation of histones H3 and H4 on the IL-6 promoter. Moreover, we elucidated an important role for suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) 3 in IL-17 enhancement of IL-6 signaling in astrocytes. SOCS3 small interfering RNA knockdown and SOCS3 deletion in astrocytes augmented the synergistic effect of IL-6 and IL-17 due to an enhancement of activation of the NF-κB and MAPK pathways. These results indicate that astrocytes can serve as a target of Th17 cells and IL-17 in the CNS, and SOCS3 participates in IL-17 functions in the CNS as a negative feedback regulator.