The IL-17 family cytokines in immunity and disease.
BACKGROUND
Accumulating evidence suggests that the interleukin (IL)-17 cytokines are major players in the immune response to foreign pathogens. In addition, the pathogeneses of a number of inflammatory diseases have been linked to uncontrolled expression of these cytokine pathways.


CONCLUSIONS
Genetic and biochemical analyses have elucidated the cellular and molecular events triggered by these proteins during an inflammatory response. While significant efforts have been placed on understanding the functions of IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-17E, the significance of the other family members, IL-17B-D, in inflammation remains to be determined.


CONCLUSIONS
This review will focus on the cellular sources, target cell/receptors that are utilized by these cytokines to control pathogenesis, and the therapeutic potential of targeting these pathways to treat inflammatory disorders.
Pappu
Rajita
R
Department of Immunology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA. pappu.rajita@gene.com
Ramirez-Carrozzi
Vladimir
V
Ota
Naruhisa
N
Ouyang
Wenjun
W
Hu
Yan
Y
D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000276:immunology*; D053722:Receptors, Interleukin-17 / Q000276:immunology*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
C486701:IL25 protein, human; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020381:Interleukin-17; D053722:Receptors, Interleukin-17