CTL-Promoting Effects of IL-21 Counteract Murine Lupus in the Parent→F1 Graft-versus-Host Disease Model

IL-21 promotes B cell and CTL responses in vivo, conferring IL-21 with a role in both humoral and cellular responses. Because CTL can target and eliminate autoreactive B cells, we investigated whether IL-21R signaling in CD8 T cells would alter the expansion of autoreactive B cells in an autoimmune setting. We addressed this question using the parent→F1 murine model of acute and chronic (lupus-like) graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) as models of a CTL-mediated or T-dependent B cell-mediated response, respectively. Induction of acute GVHD using IL-21R-deficient donor T cells resulted in decreased peak donor CD8 T cell numbers and decreased CTL effector function due to impaired granzyme B/perforin and Fas/Fas ligand pathways and a phenotype of low-intensity chronic GVHD with persistent host B cells, autoantibody production, and mild lupus-like renal disease. CTL effector maturation was critically dependent on IL-21R signaling in Ag-specific donor CD8, but not CD4, T cells. Conversely, treatment of DBA/2J→F1 chronic GVHD mice with IL-21 strongly promoted donor CD8 T cell expansion and rescued defective donor anti-host CTLs, resulting in host B cell elimination, decreased autoantibody levels, and attenuated renal disease, despite evidence of concurrently enhanced CD4 help for B cells and heightened B cell activation. These results demonstrate that, in the setting of lupus-like CD4 T cell-driven B cell hyperactivity, IL-21 signaling on Ag-specific donor CD8 T cells is critical for CTL effector maturation, whereas a lack of IL-21R downregulates CTL responses that would otherwise limit B cell hyperactivity and autoantibody production.