title: Integral role of integrins in Th17 development.
abstract: A lineage of CD4+ T cells known as Th17 cells, which are derived by exposure of naive CD4+ T cells to IL-6 and TGF-β, have been implicated in several autoimmune diseases. In this issue of the JCI, studies by Acharya et al. and Melton et al. show that TGF-β is activated at the DC/CD4+ T cell synapse by αv integrins and that this activation is required for Th17 differentiation and autoimmunity in the central nervous system. Thus, these studies offer a potential therapeutic target in fighting autoimmune diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Louisiana State University, Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
authors.forename: Derek A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Pociask
authors.forename: Jay K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kolls
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D016023:Integrins / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D018448:Models, Immunological; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016023:Integrins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta