HSP70-Homolog DnaK of Increases the Production of IL-27 through Expression of via TLR4-Dependent NF-κB and TLR4-Independent Akt Signaling.

IL-27, a heterodimeric cytokine composed of the p28 subunit and Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 3 (EBI3), acts as a potent immunosuppressant and thus limits pathogenic inflammatory responses. IL-27 is upregulated upon infection in septic mice, increasing susceptibility to the infection and decreasing clearance of the pathogen. However, it remains unclear which -derived molecules promote production of IL-27. In this study, we explored the mechanism by which DnaK, a heat shock protein 70-like protein, induces expression, thereby promoting production of IL-27. Upregulation of expression did not lead to an increase in IL-35, which consists of the p35 subunit and EBI3. The IL-27 production in response to DnaK was biologically active, as reflected by stimulation of IL-10 production. DnaK-mediated expression of was driven by two distinct signaling pathways, NF-κB and Akt. However, NF-κB is linked to TLR4-associated signaling pathways, whereas Akt is not. Taken together, our results reveal that DnaK potently upregulates expression, which in turn drives production of the prominent anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-27, as a consequence of TLR4-dependent activation of NF-κB and TLR4-independent activation of the Akt signaling pathway.