Elevated frequencies of CD4(+) IL-21(+) T, CD4(+) IL-21R(+) T and IL-21(+) Th17 cells, and increased levels of IL-21 in bleomycin-induced mice may be associated with dermal and pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis.

Aim: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by immune abnormalities, progressive fibrosis of the skin and internal organs, and microvascular injury and damage. Interleukin-21 receptor (IL-21R) is expressed in the epidermis from patients with SSc. However, information describing the role of IL-21 in SSc is limited.

Methods: We established a mouse model of bleomycin (BLM)-induced fibrosis. The frequency of CD4(+) IL-21(+) T, CD4(+) IL-21R(+) T and IL-21(+) Th17 cells in peripheral blood, skin and lungs of BLM-induced mice were detected by flow cytometry; IL-21 levels in the peripheral blood were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). CD4(+) T cells were isolated from the spleen of BLM-induced and control mice and cultured in vitro alone or in the presence of mrIL-21 or mrIL-21 plus transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. The frequency of Th17 cells was detected by flow cytometry; levels of IL-17 were evaluated by ELISA, and the expression of IL-17A and retinoic-acid-receptor-related orphan receptors gamma t (RORγt) messenger RNA were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results: Compared to control mice, the frequency of CD4(+) IL-21(+) T, CD4(+) 21R(+) T and IL-21(+) Th17 cells and the levels of IL-21 were significantly increased in BLM-induced mice. The frequency of CD4(+) IL-21(+) T, CD4(+) 21R(+) T and IL-21(+) Th17 cells and the levels of IL-21 were correlated with dermal and pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. In vitro analyses indicate that IL-21 promoted the differentiation of Th17 cells from CD4(+) cells isolated from the spleen of BLM-induced mice.

Conclusion: IL-21 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of SSc as a Th17 effector cytokine, and IL-21 may induce the differentiation of Th17 cells in the BLM-induced SSc mouse model.