A20 Inhibits Intraocular Inflammation in Mice by Regulating the Function of CD4+T Cells and RPE Cells

Front Immunol. 2021 Feb 4:11:603939. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.603939. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

A20 is a negative regulator of inflammation and immunity and plays a role in several autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Here, we demonstrate that A20 overexpression significantly ameliorates severity of EAU by inhibiting the infiltration of Th1 and Th17 cells, and by protecting integrity of the blood retinal barrier. In vitro studies showed that A20 silencing could promote CD4+T cells toward a Th1 and Th17 phenotype. A decreased expression of A20 in CD4+T cells was noticed in active BD patients but not in VKH patients. Furthermore, silencing of A20 in hRPE cells induced the production of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 and downregulated ZO-1 and occludin expression which is mediated by inhibition of MAPK and NF-κB pathways. This study reveals a mechanism by which A20 prevents autoimmune uveitis.

Keywords: A20; Behcet’s disease; CD4+T cells; EAU; blood-retinal-barrier.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
  • Autoimmune Diseases / metabolism*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / pathology
  • Autoimmune Diseases / prevention & control
  • Blood-Retinal Barrier*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Chemotaxis, Leukocyte*
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Epithelial Cells / immunology
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Epithelial Cells / pathology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Phenotype
  • Retinal Pigment Epithelium / immunology
  • Retinal Pigment Epithelium / metabolism*
  • Retinal Pigment Epithelium / pathology
  • Signal Transduction
  • Tight Junction Proteins / metabolism
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha-Induced Protein 3 / genetics
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha-Induced Protein 3 / metabolism*
  • Uvea / immunology
  • Uvea / metabolism*
  • Uvea / pathology
  • Uveitis / immunology
  • Uveitis / metabolism*
  • Uveitis / pathology
  • Uveitis / prevention & control

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Tight Junction Proteins
  • TNFAIP3 protein, human
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha-Induced Protein 3
  • Tnfaip3 protein, mouse