Selective targeting of PI3Kδ suppresses human IL-17-producing T cells and innate-like lymphocytes and may be therapeutic for IL-17-mediated diseases

Abstract

The delta isoform of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3Kδ) regulates various lymphocyte functions. Considering the key pro-inflammatory role of IL-17A and IL-17F cytokines in psoriasis and spondyloarthritis (SpA), we investigated the potential of PI3Kδ blockade to suppress IL-17A, IL-17F and associated pro-inflammatory cytokines that could synergize with IL-17A and IL-17F. Using in vitro studies with primary human cells and ex vivo studies with inflamed target tissues, we assessed if seletalisib, a selective PI3Kδ inhibitor, suppresses cytokine production by T cells and innate-like lymphocytes, and if seletalisib modulates the inflammatory responses in stromal cell populations in psoriasis (human dermal fibroblasts (HDF)) and SpA (fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS)). In vitro, seletalisib inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-17A and IL-17F, from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), T helper 17 (Th17) cells as well as γδ-T cells and mucosal-associated invariant T cells. This inhibition resulted in decreased inflammatory activation of HDF in co-culture systems. Seletalisib was also efficacious in inhibiting SpA PBMCs and synovial fluid mononuclear cells (SFMCs) from producing pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, supernatant derived from cultured seletalisib-treated Th17 cells showed reduced potency for activating inflammatory responses from cultured SpA FLS and decreased their osteogenic differentiation capacity. Finally, analysis of inflamed SpA synovial tissue biopsies revealed activation of the PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway. We observed that ex vivo seletalisib treatment of inflamed synovial tissue reduced IL-17A and IL-17F expression. Collectively, inhibition of PI3Kδ reduces the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines from IL-17-producing adaptive and innate-like lymphocytes and thereby inhibits downstream inflammatory and tissue remodeling responses. PI3Kδ-targeting may therefore represent a novel therapeutic avenue for the treatment of IL-17-mediated chronic inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis and SpA.

Keywords: Interleukin-17A; Interleukin-17F; Psoriatic arthritis; Spondyloarthritis; phosphoinositide 3-kinase δ.