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  • Krohn, Sonja; Nies, Jasper F; Kapffer, Sonja; Schmidt, Tilman; Riedel, Jan-Hendrik; Kaffke, Anna; Peters, Anett; Borchers, Alina; Steinmetz, Oliver M; Krebs, Christian F; Turner, Jan-Eric; Brix, Silke R; Paust, Hans-Joachim; Stahl, Rolf A K; Panzer, Ulf

    Journal of the American Society of Nephrology 29, Issue: 4
    Journal Article

    The IL-17 cytokine family and the cognate receptors thereof have a unique role in organ-specific autoimmunity. Most studies have focused on the founding member of the IL-17 family, IL-17A, as the central mediator of diseases. Indeed, although pathogenic functions have been ascribed to IL-17A and IL-17F in the context of immune-mediated glomerular diseases, the specific functions of the other IL-17 family members in immunity and inflammatory kidney diseases is largely unknown. Here, we report that compared with healthy controls, patients with acute Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmatic antibody (ANCA)-associated crescentic glomerulonephritis (GN) had significantly elevated serum levels of IL-17C (but not IL-17A, F, or E). In mouse models of crescentic GN (nephrotoxic nephritis) and pristane-induced lupus nephritis, deficiency in IL-17C significantly ameliorated the course of GN in terms of renal tissue injury and kidney function. Deficiency of the unique IL-17C receptor IL-17 receptor E (IL-17RE) provided similar protection against crescentic GN. These protective effects associated with a reduced T 17 response. Bone marrow transplantation experiments revealed that IL-17C is produced by tissue-resident cells, but not by lymphocytes. Finally, IL-17RE was highly expressed by CD4 T 17 cells, and loss of this expression prevented the T 17 responses and subsequent tissue injury in crescentic GN. Our findings indicate that IL-17C promotes T 17 cell responses and immune-mediated kidney disease IL-17RE expressed on CD4 T 17 cells. Targeting the IL-17C/IL-17RE pathway may present an intriguing therapeutic strategy for T 17-induced autoimmune disorders.