T cells instruct myeloid cells to produce inflammasome-independent IL-1[beta] and cause autoimmunity

The cytokine interleukin (IL)-1[beta] is a key mediator of antimicrobial immunity as well as autoimmune inflammation. Production of IL-1[beta] requires transcription by innate immune receptor signaling and maturational cleavage by inflammasomes. Whether this mechanism applies to IL-1[beta] production seen in T cell-driven autoimmune diseases remains unclear. Here, we describe an inflammasome-independent pathway of IL-1[beta] production that was triggered upon cognate interactions between effector CD4.sup.+ T cells and mononuclear phagocytes (MPs). The cytokine TNF produced by activated CD4.sup.+ T cells engaged its receptor TNFR on MPs, leading to pro-IL-1[beta] synthesis. Membrane-bound FasL, expressed by CD4.sup.+ T cells, activated death receptor Fas signaling in MPs, resulting in caspase-8-dependent pro-IL-1[beta] cleavage. The T cell-instructed IL-1[beta] resulted in systemic inflammation, whereas absence of TNFR or Fas signaling protected mice from CD4.sup.+ T cell-driven autoimmunity. The TNFR-Fas-caspase-8-dependent pathway provides a mechanistic explanation for IL-1[beta] production and its consequences in CD4.sup.+ T cell-driven autoimmune pathology.