gammadelta T cells: an important source of IL-17.
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.
Roark
Christina L
CL
Integrated Department of Immunology, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, CO 80206, USA. roarkc@njc.org
Simonian
Philip L
PL
Fontenot
Andrew P
AP
Born
Willi K
WK
O'Brien
Rebecca L
RL
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*
D020381:Interleukin-17; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta