title: Interleukin-17-producing T helper cells in autoimmunity.
abstract: With all the incredible progress in scientific research over the past two decades, the trigger of the majority of autoimmune disorders remains largely elusive. Research on the biology of T helper type 17 (T(H)17) cells over the last decade not only clarified previous observations of immune regulations and disease manifestations, but also provided considerable information on the signaling pathways mediating the effects of this lineage and its seemingly dual role in fighting the invading pathogens on one hand, and in frightening the host by inducing chronic inflammation and autoimmunity on the other hand. In this context, recent reports have implicated T(H)17 cells in mediating host defense as well as a growing list of autoimmune diseases in genetically-susceptible individuals. Herein, we summarize the current knowledge on T(H)17 in autoimmunity with emphasis on its differentiation factors and some mechanisms involved in initiating pathological events of autoimmunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Alexandria, Egypt. nhemdan@yahoo.de
authors.forename: Nasr Y A
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Hemdan
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Birkenmeier
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wichmann
authors.forename: Ahmed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Abu El-Saad
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Krieger
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Conrad
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sack
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D015551:Autoimmunity; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000378:metabolism; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D020381:Interleukin-17; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors