title: Clinical implication of recent advances in our understanding of IL-17 and reproductive immunology.
abstract: The identification of a novel helper T (Th)-cell subset, the IL-17-producing Th (Th17) cells, has provided new insight into our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of reproduction. IL-17 has an important role in induction of the protective immune response against extracellular bacteria or fungal pathogens. Th17 cells seem to participate in successful pregnancy processes. Th17 cells also play a pivotal role in pathogenesis of endometriosis, miscarriage, preterm labor and preeclampsia. Recent data show the reciprocal development of pathways between Th1/Th17 subsets and between Th17/Treg subsets, and the imbalance of Th17/Treg development has been reported in recurrent pregnancy loss and preeclampsia.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama-shi, Toyama 930-0194, Japan. s30saito@med.u-toyama.ac.jp
authors: Shigeru
authors: S
authors: Saito
authors: Akitoshi
authors: A
authors: Nakashima
authors: Mika
authors: M
authors: Ito
authors: Tomoko
authors: T
authors: Shima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17