title: gammadelta T cells: an important source of IL-17.
abstract: IL-17 is a cytokine that plays an important role in orchestrating innate immune function. In addition, IL-17 has been shown to exacerbate autoimmune diseases. CD4(+) alphabeta T cells, gammadelta T cells, and NK cells all produce IL-17. Th17 cells are a newly defined alphabeta(+) T cell lineage characterized by IL-17 production. However, gammadelta T cells are often the major source of this cytokine. Their response can be very rapid during bacterial infections and has been shown to be protective, but IL-17-producing gammadelta T cells have also been found to exacerbate collagen-induced arthritis. Interestingly, some gammadelta T cells produce IL-17 in response to IL-23 alone, even in naïve animals, suggesting they are already differentiated and may develop differently than CD4(+) alphabeta Th17 cells.
authors.affiliation: Integrated Department of Immunology, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, CO 80206, USA. roarkc@njc.org
authors.forename: Christina L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Roark
authors.forename: Philip L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Simonian
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Fontenot
authors.forename: Willi K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Born
authors.forename: Rebecca L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000145:classification; D051379:Mice; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000032:analysis*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta