title: The IL-17 pathway as a major therapeutic target in autoimmune diseases.
abstract: Th17 cells are a subset of T helper cells that have been recently found to play important functions in host defense and the pathogenesis of various human autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Th17 cells produce IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-22, and IL-21, of which IL-17A and IL-17F mediate many of the downstream pathologic functions of these cells. IL-17A and IL-17F signal through IL-17RA and IL-17RC heterodimeric receptors that are mainly expressed on tissue epithelial cells and fibroblasts. While IL-17A and IL-17F are important for host defense against many extracellular pathogens, they can also cause excessive tissue damage and exacerbate proinflammatory responses during autoimmunity. The IL-17 pathway, therefore, is a primary therapeutic target downstream of Th17 cells.
authors.affiliation: C2N Diagnostics, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. helenhu@c2ndiagnostics.com
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Natasha K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Crellin
authors.forename: Wenjun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ouyang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; C508717:IL17A protein, human; C440021:IL17F protein, human; D020381:Interleukin-17