Interleukin-17 receptor D constitutes an alternative receptor for interleukin-17A important in psoriasis-like skin inflammation

Abstract

T helper 17 (T_H17) cells and interleukin-17A (IL-17A) produced by them are critical in autoinflammatory diseases, such as psoriasis. IL-17A has been shown to signal through IL-17 receptor A/IL-17 receptor C (IL-17RA/IL-17RC) complex to drive inflammatory responses. However, in a psoriasis model, we found that <i>Il17rc</i> deficiency did not completely ameliorate the disease, suggesting another receptor. In search for another IL-17A-interacting receptor, we found that IL-17RD directly bound IL-17A but not IL-17F or IL-17A/F heterodimer and formed a heterodimer with IL-17RA. IL-17A-, but not IL-17F- or IL-17A/F-, mediated gene expression was defective in <i>Il17rd</i>-deficient keratinocytes. <i>Il17rd</i> deficiency in nonhemopoietic cells attenuated imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation. Although IL-17RC and IL-17RD differentially activated IL-17A-dependent signaling and gene expression, their compound mutation led to complete deficits in keratinocytes. IL-23 was found induced by IL-17A in keratinocytes, dependent on both IL-17RC and IL-17RD, suggesting feed-forward regulation of IL-23/IL-17 axis in psoriasis. Together, IL-17RD constitutes a second functional receptor for IL-17A and, together with IL-17RC, mediates the proinflammatory gene expression downstream of IL-17A.