MicroRNA-17-92 is required for T-cell and B-cell pathogenicity in chronic graft-versus-host disease in mice

Y Wu, S Schutt, K Paz, M Zhang… - Blood, The Journal …, 2018 - ashpublications.org
Y Wu, S Schutt, K Paz, M Zhang, RP Flynn, D Bastian, MH Sofi, H Nguyen, M Dai, C Liu
Blood, The Journal of the American Society of Hematology, 2018ashpublications.org
Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is characterized as autoimmune-like fibrosis and
antibody production mediated by pathogenic T cells and B cells. MicroRNA-17-92 (miR-17-
92) influences the survival, differentiation, and function of lymphocytes in cancer, infections,
and autoimmunity. To determine whether miR-17-92 regulates T-and B-cell responses in
cGVHD, we generated mice conditionally deficient for miR-17-92 in T cells, B cells, or both.
Using murine models of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, we demonstrate that …
Abstract
Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is characterized as autoimmune-like fibrosis and antibody production mediated by pathogenic T cells and B cells. MicroRNA-17-92 (miR-17-92) influences the survival, differentiation, and function of lymphocytes in cancer, infections, and autoimmunity. To determine whether miR-17-92 regulates T- and B-cell responses in cGVHD, we generated mice conditionally deficient for miR-17-92 in T cells, B cells, or both. Using murine models of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, we demonstrate that expression of miR-17-92 in donor T and B cells is essential for the induction of both scleroderma and bronchiolitis obliterans in cGVHD. Mechanistically, miR-17-92 expressed in T cells not only enhances the differentiation of pathogenic T helper 1 (Th1) and Th17 cells, but also promotes the generation of follicular Th cells, germinal center (GC) B cells, and plasma cells. In B cells, miR-17-92 expression is required for autoantibody production and immunoglobulin G deposition in the skin. Furthermore, we evaluated a translational approach using antagomirs specific for either miR-17 or miR-19, key members in miR-17-92 cluster. In a lupus-like cGVHD model, systemic administration of anti–miR-17, but not anti–miR-19, alleviates clinical manifestations and proteinuria incidence in recipients through inhibiting donor lymphocyte expansion, B-cell activation, and GC responses. Blockade of miR-17 also ameliorates skin damage by reducing Th17 differentiation in a scleroderma-cGVHD model. Taken together, our work reveals that miR-17-92 is required for T-cell and B-cell differentiation and function, and thus for the development of cGVHD. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of miR-17 represents a potential therapeutic strategy for the prevention of cGVHD.
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