title: The role of interleukin-17 in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Interleukin (IL)-17 (also known as IL-17A), the signature cytokine of the newly described T helper 17 (Th17) cell population, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis. IL-17 is the founding member of a new subclass of cytokines that have highly proinflammatory properties. Studies in rodents and mammalian cell culture systems, as well as clinical settings, support a role for IL-17 in promoting rheumatoid arthritis. This article discusses the history of the discovery of Th17 cells, the potential mechanisms of action of IL-17 in autoimmunity, and perspectives for IL-17-targeted cytokine therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. sig65@pitt.edu
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Gaffen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; C508717:IL17A protein, human; D020381:Interleukin-17