title: IL-17 in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: IL-17 is a cytokine with powerful proinflammatory activity. Production of IL-17 is abnormally increased in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a multiorgan chronic autoimmune disease. In patients with SLE, CD3+CD4(-)CD8(-) (double negative) T cells are an important source of IL-17. IL-17 produced by double negative and CD4 T cells participates in the pathogenesis of the disease. IL-17-producing T cells are present in the kidneys of patients with lupus nephritis. IL-17 increased production in patients with SLE can amplify the immune response by increasing target organ inflammation and damage and by augmenting the production of antibodies by B cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02130, USA.
authors.forename: José C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Crispín
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Tsokos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17