The selective ROCK2 inhibitor KD025 reduces IL-17 secretion in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells independent of IL-1 and IL-6

Reducing the activities of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-17 is an effective treatment strategy for several chronic autoimmune disorders. Rho-associated coiled-coil containing kinase 2 (ROCK2) is a member of the serine-threonine protein kinase family that regulates IL-17 secretion in T cells via signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)-dependent mechanism. We reported here that the selective ROCK2 inhibitor KD025 significantly reduced in vitro production of IL-17 in unfractionated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) stimulated with the dectin-1 agonist Candida albicans. C. albicans induced IL-17 was reduced by 70% (p < 0.0001); a similar reduction (80%) was observed in PBMC stimulated with the Toll-like receptor 2 agonist Staphylococcus epidermidis (p < 0.0001). Treatment of PBMC with KD025 was not associated with a reduction in IL-1beta, IL-6 or IL-1alpha levels; in contrast, a 1.5 fold increase in the level of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) was observed (p < 0.001). KD025 down-regulated C. albicans-induced Myosin Light Chain and STAT3, whereas STAT5 phosphorylation increased. Using anti-CD3/CD28 activation of the TCR, KD025 similarly suppressed IL-17 independent of a reduction in IL-1beta. Thus, ROCK2 directly regulates IL-17 secretion independent of endogenous IL-1 and IL-6 supporting development of selective ROCK2 inhibitors for treatment of IL-17-driven inflammatory diseases