An appropriate balance between inflammatory and regulatory T cells is critical to maintaining immune homeostasis and preventing autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal model, EAE. Although the differentiation and pathogenicity of T helper subsets is known to be regulated by specific transcription factors and cytokines, the role of microRNAs that control the balance of these cells is not well understood. We recently uncovered an important role for the microRNA, Mir-21 in promoting inflammatory Th17/Th1 cells and inhibiting regulatory Tr35 cells in both mice and humans. Our preliminary data suggest that Mir-21 mediates tissue inflammation in EAE via these cell types. Specifically, we found that in Th17 cells, Mir- 21 targets Foxo1, relieves IL-23R and IL-1R from Foxo1-mediated inhibition, enhances responsiveness to IL- 23 and IL-1?, and promotes Th17 pathogenicity. Mir-21 also promotes GM-CSF expression within differentiated Th1 cells by targeting the Foxo1-IL-1R axis. Loss of Mir-21 interferes with the expression of the Th17/Th1 effector cytokine GM-CSF in vivo and confers striking EAE resistance. In addition, our preliminary data show that Mir-21 may promote autoimmunity by preventing the development of regulatory Tr35 cells by targeting IL-12p35, a subunit shared by the cytokine IL-35. Analogous to our findings in mice, we have found that Mir-21 promotes Th17 differentiation, while inhibiting Tr35 cells, in humans. Interestingly, we have also found increased expression of Mir-21 in T cells and other Th1/Th17 cytokines in MS patients, and that IFN-?, a first-line therapy for MS, inhibits Mir-21 in T cells. Most importantly, we found that CD4+ T cells from IFN-? responders expressed lower levels of Mir-21, and that non-responders had indistinguishable levels from untreated patients. However, the exact role of Mir-21 in the regulation of Th17/Th1 and Tr35 cells in EAE and humans, specifically MS patients, is not known. In this proposal, we will investigate how Mir-21 regulates the balance of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory T cells in EAE and MS.
In Aim 1, we will investigate the molecular mechanisms by which Mir-21 promotes the pathogenic functions of Th17/Th1 and inhibition of regulatory Tr35 cells in EAE.
In Aim 2, we will molecularly define the mechanisms by which Mir-21 mediates promotion of Th17 cells and inhibition of regulatory Tr35 cells, and modulates other T helper subsets in humans. Given that our preliminary data in human T helper cells and MS patients is analogous to murine cells and EAE mice, it is possible that the same critical pathogenic Mir-21-mediated pathways modulating EAE may also be involved in the MS pathogenesis. Therefore, in Aim 3, we will investigate whether Mir-21 pathways influence the balance of inflammatory Th17/Th1 and regulatory T cells in MS patients and whether regulation by these pathways is altered in response to therapy. A better understanding of these pathways will have important implications for navigating immune mechanisms in MS and how they relate to therapeutic efficacy.
Because dysfunction of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory T cells has been associated with many autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), control of T cell development and function is of major clinical interest. The proposed experiments are designed to improve our basic understanding of how microRNA-21 controls the balance of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory T cells in MS and its animal model, EAE. In addition, these studies will provide insight into the mechanisms underlying the efficacy of IFN-beta, a first line therapy used in the treatment of MS, and may help in devising novel MS therapeutics.
