Interleukin-17 is a T-cell-derived cytokine, detected in skin affected by allergic contact dermatitis and psoriasis, which regulates keratinocyte expression of adhesion molecules and chemokines. In this study, we have analyzed whether interleukin-17 production segregates with a particular T helper (Th) cell subset, and have examined the capacity of interleukin-17 to modulate the activation of keratinocytes induced by Th1 and Th2 cytokines. A panel of 80 nickel-specific CD4+ T cell clones (36 Th0, 30 Th1, and 14 Th2) was isolated from peripheral blood or lesional skin of allergic contact dermatitis patients. Significant amounts (> 50 pg per ml) of interleukin-17 were released by about 50% of activated Th0, Th1, and Th2 cells. Interleukin-17 alone and in cooperation with interleukin-4, or to a lesser extent with interferon-γ, decreased the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist to interleukin-1α ratio in the supernatants as well as in cell lysates from keratinocytes. In addition, interleukin-17 stimulated the release of growth-regulated oncogene-α, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, and interleukin-6, with synergistic or additive effects when used together with interferon-γ or interleukin-4. Interleukin-17 and interleukin-4 also increased stem cell factor release, a function that was inhibited by interferon-γ. Moreover, interleukin-17 and interleukin-4 enhanced interferon-γ-induced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1, but not CD40, on keratinocytes. The constitutive expression of interleukin-17 and interferon-γ receptors on keratinocytes was not modulated by interleukin-17, interferon-γ, or interleukin-4, whereas the interleukin-4 receptor was significantly downregulated by interferon-γ. As a whole, the results indicate that interleukin-17 can participate relevantly in T-cell-mediated skin immune responses by amplifying both interferon-γ- and interleukin-4-induced activation of keratinocytes.
