title: IL-23/IL-17 biology and therapeutic considerations.
abstract: CD4+ T-lymphocytes are pivotal in immune responses to pathogens and in pathogenesis of various inflammatory diseases. Upon activation by the innate immune system, naïve CD4+ helper T (T(H))-lymphocytes differentiate into effector cells that are characterized by their cytokine profiles. T-Helper 1 (T(H)1) and T(H)2 lymphocytes have long been regarded as two sides of a coin in adaptive immune responses. However, recent data indicate a novel lineage of T(H) lymphocytes specified by the production of interleukin-17 (IL-17). Here I describe the recent literature on the regulatory mechanisms underlying generation of IL-17-expressing T-lymphocytes. In addition, I also summarize on the biological function of these cells in infection, autoimmunity and allergy. IL-17 and IL-17-expressing inflammatory T(H) lymphocytes may thus serve as good targets for therapeutic intervention in treatment of patients with inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. cdong@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000639:trends; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D019899:Paracrine Communication / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17; D053759:Interleukin-23