[T(H)17 lymphocytes: induction, phenotype, functions, and implications in human disease and therapy].
Differentiation of naive CD4(+) T helper (T(H)) cells is a major step of the adaptative immune response. When activated by pathogens in a specific cytokine environment, CD4(+) T cells differentiate into different subsets of T(H) cells with specific effector functions. T(H)1 lymphocytes orchestrate cellular immune response by producing interferon-γ and stimulating cytotoxic cells whereas T(H)2 cells orchestrate humoral immune response by producing interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5 and IL-10, leading to immunoglobulin production. Conversely, regulatory T cells (Treg) are capable of inhibiting immune response. Recently discovered, T(H)17 cells are characterized by their ability to produce IL-17 and play an important role in anti-infectious and inflammatory immune responses. This review focuses on present knowledge about T(H)17 cells: their induction, phenotype, functions, implications in host defense and human disease, and their potential to represent possible therapeutic targets.
Samson
M
M
Service de médecine interne et immunologie clinique, hôpital du Bocage, CHU de Dijon, Dijon cedex, France.
Lakomy
D
D
Audia
S
S
Bonnotte
B
B
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000276:immunology*; D010641:Phenotype; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D020381:Interleukin-17