Upregulation of DR3 expression in CD4+ T cells promotes secretion of IL-17 in experimental autoimmune uveitis

PURPOSE This study investigated the role of death receptor 3 (DR3) in experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU). METHODS EAU was induced in B10.RIII mice by subcutaneous injection of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) 161-180 emulsified with complete Freund's adjuvant and evaluated with clinical and histopathologic observation. Total protein of draining lymph nodes (DLNs) was extracted from the control, EAU, or recovery phase mice. CD4⁺ T cells were separated from lymphocytes with magnetic-assisted cell sorting. At the same time, some of the CD4⁺ T cells were cultured with or without recombinant TL1A (rTL1A, the DR3 ligand) for three days, and the supernatants were collected for the interleukin-17 (IL-17) test. DR3 mRNA and protein levels in CD4⁺ T cells and the endogenous concentration of TL1A in mice DLNs were assessed with real-time PCR or western blotting. Levels of IL-17 in the supernatants were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS Histopathological and clinical data revealed severe intraocular inflammation in the immunized mice. The inflammation reached its peak on day 14 in EAU and had resolved in the recovery phase (weeks 4-5 or more after IRBP immunization). CD4⁺ T cells obtained from EAU (day 7 or 14) had higher levels of DR3 mRNA and protein expression compared with the control group treated with complete Freund's adjuvant alone and the recovery group. However, the DR3 mRNA and protein levels on day 21 in EAU were similar to those observed in the control and recovery groups. The endogenous levels of TL1A were upregulated in EAU, and decreased in the recovery phase mice. Adding rTL1A increased the production of IL-17 by CD4⁺ T cells isolated from mice DLNs. Moreover, the increased IL-17 levels in the culture supernatant of CD4⁺ T cells from EAU were much higher than those from the control and recovery phase mice. However, the effects on promoting IL-17 production in TL1A-stimulated CD4⁺ T cells were similar between the controland recovery groups. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that DR3 expression is induced during EAU and may be involved in the development of this disease, possibly by promoting IL-17 secretion.