Retinoid-related orphan receptor gamma t is a potential therapeutic target for controlling inflammatory autoimmunity.
Retinoid-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORgamma t) is a member of the nuclear receptor family that is specifically expressed in T cell compartments. RORgamma t regulates the development of T cells in the thymus and the differentiation of effector T cells in the periphery. During T cell development, RORgamma t enhances CD4(+)CD8(+) double positive thymocyte survival by upregulating Bcl-x(L). In the periphery, RORgamma t regulates IL-17 production and dictates the differentiation of pro-inflammatory T helper 17 (T(H)17) cells that play a critical role in inflammatory conditions and autoimmunity. RORgamma t-deficient T cells fail to differentiate into T(H)17 cells, whereas forced expression of RORgamma t is sufficient to induce naive T cells to produce IL-17. T(H)17 cells are believed to be the major inflammatory cells in autoimmune diseases. Therefore, inhibition of RORgamma t activity could potentially alleviate the symptoms associated with the T(H)17-dependent inflammatory autoimmune diseases. RORgamma t is thus potentially an excellent therapeutic target for the intervention of inflammatory autoimmunity.
Huang
Zhaofeng
Z
Medical School of the University of Illinois, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Xie
Huimin
H
Wang
Ruiqing
R
Sun
Zuoming
Z
D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D020381:Interleukin-17; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3; C539900:RORC protein, human; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone