Induction of CXCL10 chemokine in adrenocortical cells by stimulation through toll-like receptor 3

Addison’s disease is a prototypic organ-specific autoimmune disease affecting the adrenal cortex. The CXC chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) is expressed early in viral infections, and is produced by primary adrenocortical cells stimulated by certain cytokines. CXCL10 is also elevated in the serum of Addison’s disease patients. We therefore investigated if the viral RNA substitute polyinosine–polycytidylic acid (poly (I:C)) could influence the cytokine induced production of CXCL10 by adrenocortical cells. We found that poly (I:C) could induce CXCL10 in NCI-H295R adrenocortical carcinoma cells, either alone or synergistically along with cytokines interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α. This effect was found to be mediated by toll-like receptor 3 and both nuclear factor κB (NFκB) and signal transducer and activator of transcription-1 (STAT1), but not type I interferons, seemed to be involved. We propose that the combination of environmental and endogenous factors presented here, could contribute to the multifactorial pathogenesis of autoimmune Addison’s disease.

► Adrenocortical cells express toll-like receptor 3.
► Stimulation of NCI-H295R cells with poly (I:C) induces CXCL10 chemokine.
► The induction of CXCL10 in NCI-H295R cells is toll-like receptor 3 dependent.
► The induction of CXCL10 in NCI-H295R cells is independent of type I interferons.