IL-21 induction of CD4+T cell differentiation into Th17 cells contributes to bleomycin-induced fibrosis in mice

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease characterized by fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. Th17 cells and interleukin-17 (also called IL-17A) have been found to be increased in peripheral blood and skin in patients with SSc. IL-21 is a potent inducer of Th17 differentiation that is produced by activated T cells, and whose relationship with Th17 cells in SSc is unclear. Here, using a bleomycin (BLM)-induced mouse model of skin fibrosis, we detected the frequency of CD4+/IL-17+ (Th17) cells, CD4+/IL-21+ T cells and IL-21+ Th17 cells in peripheral blood, skin and lungs, as well as the serum content of IL-17A and IL-21. In addition, we assessed the differentiation of CD4+ T cells cultured from these mice into Th17 cells in response to treatment with IL-21. Compared with the control mice, Th17 cell counts and IL-17A levels were significantly increased and correlated with inflammatory and fibrotic indices in the skin and lungs of the BLM-induced fibrosis mice. Moreover, serum levels of CD4+/IL-21+ T cells, IL-21+ Th17 cells, and IL-21 were significantly increased in these mice, and correlated positively with serum levels of Th17 cells. In vitro experiments showed that IL-21 treated CD4+ T cells derived from BLM-induced mice differentiated into Th17 cells. Our results indicate that Th17 cells and IL-17A contributes to inflammatory and fibrotic processes in the skin and lungs in a BLM-induced mouse model of SSc. Moreover, the expansion of the Th17 cell population may be subsequent to IL-21 promotion of the differentiation of CD4+ T cells in these mice.