Interleukin-27 upregulates major histocompatibility complex class II expression in primary human endothelial cells through induction of major histocompatibility complex class II transactivator

Interleukin-27 (IL-27) is a novel IL-12 family member that plays a critical role in the regulation of T-cell responses. Its immunoregulatory effects on endothelial cells (EC) remain unexplored. Here we show a role for IL-27 in the induction of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) expression in primary human EC. Stimulation of human umbilical vein ECs by IL-27 rapidly induces IFN regulatory factor-1 and dramatically increases the expression of major histocompatibility class II transactivator (CIITA) isoform IV. Expression of this transactivator correlates with increased MHC class II gene expression. IL-27 also enhances expression of MHC class I molecules. Furthermore expression of beta2-microglobulin and transporter associated with antigen processing-1 transcripts increases in response to IL-27. Additional microarray analysis demonstrates that IL-27 significantly upregulates a panel of genes that correlates with immune regulation, including the chemokines CXCL9, CXCL10, and CX3CL1 in human umbilical vein ECs. This first demonstration that both MHC II and I expression are increased in EC after IL-27 stimulation suggests that IL-27 may be important in conferring immune function on vascular endothelium.