Deletion of interleukin (IL)-12p35 induces liver fibrosis in dominant-negative TGFβ receptor type II mice

Mice with a dominant-negative transforming growth factor β receptor restricted to T cells (dnTGFβRII mice) develop an inflammatory biliary ductular disease that strongly resembles human primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Furthermore, deletion of the gene encoding interleukin (IL)-12p40 resulted in a strain (IL-12p40^-/-dnTGFβRII) with dramatically reduced autoimmune cholangitis. To further investigate the role of the IL-12 cytokine family in dnTGFβRII autoimmune biliary disease, we deleted the gene encoding the IL-12p35 subunit from dnTGFβRII mice, resulting in an IL-12p35^-/- dnTGFβRII strain which is deficient in two members of the IL-12 family, IL-12 and IL-35. In contrast to IL-12p40^-/- mice, the IL-12p35^-/-mice developed liver inflammation and bile duct damage with similar severity but delayed onset as the parental dnTGFβRII mice. The p35^-/- mice also demonstrated a distinct cytokine profile characterized by a shift from a T-helper 1 (Th1) to a Th17 response. Strikingly, liver fibrosis was frequently observed in IL-12p35^-/- mice. In conclusion, IL-12p35^-/- dnTGFβRII mice, histologically and immunologically, reflect key features of PBC, providing a useful generic model to understand the immunopathology of human PBC.