title: Identification of early gene expression changes during human Th17 cell differentiation.
abstract: Th17 cells play an essential role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Most of our current understanding on Th17 cell differentiation relies on studies carried out in mice, whereas the molecular mechanisms controlling human Th17 cell differentiation are less well defined. In this study, we identified gene expression changes characterizing early stages of human Th17 cell differentiation through genome-wide gene expression profiling. CD4(+) cells isolated from umbilical cord blood were used to determine detailed kinetics of gene expression after initiation of Th17 differentiation with IL1β, IL6, and TGFβ. The differential expression of selected candidate genes was further validated at protein level and analyzed for specificity in initiation of Th17 compared with initiation of other Th subsets, namely Th1, Th2, and iTreg. This first genome-wide profiling of transcriptomics during the induction of human Th17 differentiation provides a starting point for defining gene regulatory networks and identifying new candidates regulating Th17 differentiation in humans.
authors.affiliation: Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Soile
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tuomela
authors.forename: Verna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Salo
authors.forename: Subhash K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tripathi
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kirsti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Laurila
authors.forename: Bhawna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Tarmo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Äijö
authors.forename: Lotta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Oikari
authors.forename: Brigitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stockinger
authors.forename: Harri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lähdesmäki
authors.forename: Riitta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lahesmaa
mesh_terms: D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta