Th17 and Treg cells, two new lymphocyte subpopulations with a key role in the immune response against infection.
In addition to the T helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 lymphocyte subsets, two new subpopulations Th17 and regulatory T (Treg) cells have recently been described. Th17 cells, which produce high levels of interleukin (IL)-17, are dependent on the transcription factor orphan nuclear receptor RORC2/RORgammat and have been implicated in exacerbating the immune response to infections. Conversely, Treg cells, either thymus-derived or generated upon TCR activation of naîve T cells, express the transcription factor forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) and have regulatory functions mediated through either direct cell-cell contact or immuno-suppressive cytokines, being able to suppress the activation of T, B and NK cells. Based on the current knowledge of Th17 and Treg cell functions, new therapeutic strategies start to emerge, involving anti-cytokine treatments targeting Th17 functions or cell-based treatments in which Treg cells are generated from T cells either through Foxp3 gene transfer onto T cells with known specificities or transferring specific TCR genes onto Treg cells.
Vernal
Rolando
R
Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiopathology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CIB-CSIC, Madrid, Spain.
Garcia-Sanz
Jose A
JA
D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3; D010641:Phenotype; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology
C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3; C539900:RORC protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors