NFAT1 Regulates Systemic Autoimmunity through the Modulation of a Dendritic Cell Property

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) 2017-11, Vol.199 (9), p.3051-3062
• Main Authors: Chae, Chang-Suk, Kim, Gi-Cheon, Park, Eun Sil, Lee, Choong-Gu, Verma, Ravi, Cho, Haag-Lim, Jun, Chang-Duk, Yoo, Yung Joon, Im, Sin-Hyeog
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetylcholine; Animals; Autoimmune diseases; Autoimmunity; CD4 antigen; Cell differentiation; Cytokines - genetics; Cytokines - immunology; Dendritic cells; Dendritic Cells - immunology; Dendritic Cells - pathology; Experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis; Helper cells; Homeostasis; Immune Tolerance - genetics; Immunological tolerance; Inflammation; Interleukin 12; Interleukin 6; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes T; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Myasthenia gravis; Myasthenia Gravis, Autoimmune, Experimental - genetics; Myasthenia Gravis, Autoimmune, Experimental - immunology; Myasthenia Gravis, Autoimmune, Experimental - pathology; Neuromuscular junctions; NF-AT1 protein; NF-kappa B - genetics; NF-kappa B - immunology; NF-κB protein; NFATC Transcription Factors - genetics; NFATC Transcription Factors - immunology; Rodents; Signal Transduction - genetics; Signal Transduction - immunology; T cell receptors; Th1 Cells - immunology; Th1 Cells - pathology; Th17 Cells - immunology; Th17 Cells - pathology; Tumor necrosis factor-α
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1700882

The transcription factor NFAT1 plays a pivotal role in the homeostasis of T lymphocytes. However, its functional importance in non-CD4 T cells, especially in systemic immune disorders, is largely unknown. In this study, we report that NFAT1 regulates dendritic cell (DC) tolerance and suppresses systemic autoimmunity using the experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) as a model. Myasthenia gravis and EAMG are T cell-dependent, Ab-mediated autoimmune disorders in which the acetylcholine receptor is the major autoantigen. NFAT1-knockout mice showed higher susceptibility to EAMG development with enhanced Th1/Th17 cell responses. NFAT1 deficiency led to a phenotypic alteration of DCs that show hyperactivation of NF-κB-mediated signaling pathways and enhanced binding of NF-κB (p50) to the promoters of IL-6 and IL-12. As a result, NFAT1-knockout DCs produced much higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, and TNF-α, which preferentially induce Th1/Th17 cell differentiation. Our data suggest that NFAT1 may limit the hyperactivation of the NF-κB-mediated proinflammatory response in DCs and suppress autoimmunity by serving as a key regulator of DC tolerance.