title: Functional specialization of interleukin-17 family members.
abstract: Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) is the signature cytokine of the recently identified T helper 17 (Th17) cell subset. IL-17 has six family members (IL-17A to IL-17F). Although IL-17A and IL-17F share the highest amino acid sequence homology, they perform distinct functions; IL-17A is involved in the development of autoimmunity, inflammation, and tumors, and also plays important roles in the host defenses against bacterial and fungal infections, whereas IL-17F is mainly involved in mucosal host defense mechanisms. IL-17E (IL-25) is an amplifier of Th2 immune responses. The functions of IL-17B, IL-17C, and IL-17D remain largely elusive. In this review, we describe the identified functions of each IL-17 family member and discuss the potential of these molecules as therapeutic targets.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Pathogenesis, Center for Experimental Medicine and Systems Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan. iwakura@ims.u-tokyo.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yoichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iwakura
authors.forename: Harumichi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishigame
authors.forename: Shinobu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saijo
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakae
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal / Q000276:immunology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D005810:Multigene Family; D009181:Mycoses / Q000276:immunology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology; D053722:Receptors, Interleukin-17 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D015398:Signal Transduction; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17; D053722:Receptors, Interleukin-17