Activation of iNKT Cells Prevents Salmonella-Enterocolitis and Salmonella-Induced Reactive Arthritis by Downregulating IL-17-Producing γδT Cells

NOTO LLANA, MARIÁNGELS; SARNACKI, SEBASTIÁN H.; MORALES, ANDREA L.; AYA CASTAÑEDA, MARÍA DEL R.; GIACOMODONATO, MÓNICA N.; BLANCO, GUILLERMO; CERQUETTI, MARÍA C.

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

Frontiers

Año: 2017 vol. 7

Reactive arthritis (ReA) is an inflammatory condition of the joints that arises followingan infection. Salmonella enterocolitis is one of the most common infections leadingto ReA. Although the pathogenesis remains unclear, it is known that IL-17 plays apivotal role in the development of ReA. IL-17-producers cells are mainly Th17, iNKT,and gdT lymphocytes. It is known that iNKT cells regulate the development of Th17lineage. Whether iNKT cells also regulate gdT lymphocytes differentiation is unknown.We found that iNKT cells play a protective role in ReA. BALB/c Ja18−/− mice suffered asevere Salmonella enterocolitis, a 3.5-fold increase in IL-17 expression and aggravatedinflammation of the synovial membrane. On the other hand, activation of iNKT cells witha-GalCer abrogated IL-17 response to Salmonella enterocolitis and prevented intestinaland joint tissue damage. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory effect of a-GalCer was relatedto a drop in the proportion of IL-17-producing gdT lymphocytes (IL17-gdTcells) rather thanto a decrease in Th17 cells. In summary, we here show that iNKT cells play a protectiverole against Salmonella-enterocolitis and Salmonella-induced ReA by downregulatingIL17-gdTcells.