MEK-ERK signaling diametrically controls the stimulation of IL-23p19 and EBI3 expression in epithelial cells by IL-36γ

Abstract

Interleukin (IL)-36 cytokines are important regulators of mucosal homeostasis and inflammation. We previously established that oral epithelial cells strongly upregulate IL-36γ expression in response to the bacterial pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis. Here, we have established that IL-36γ stimulates the expression of the IL-12 cytokine family members, IL-23p19 and Epstein-Barr Virus-Induced Gene 3 (EBI3), by oral epithelial cells; their expression was also selectively stimulated by IL-36α. Notably, IL-23p19 and EBI3 expression was not stimulated by P. gingivalis, thus suggesting that their expression by the oral epithelium in response to P. gingivalis is likely to be mediated in an autocrine ..