title: Th17 cell development: from the cradle to the grave.
abstract: T cells surviving the clonal selection process emigrate from the thymus to the periphery as immature naive T cells. In the periphery, upon activation under specific cytokine milieus, naive T cells adopt specific effector phenotypes, e.g. T-helper 1 (Th1), Th2, or Th17, and acquire diverse functions to control a myriad of pathogens, tissue injuries, and other immunological insults. Interleukin-23 (IL-23) is one of the key cytokines that shapes the development and function of Th17 cells with characteristic expression of retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor γ-t (RORγt), IL-17, IL-22, and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). More recently, emerging data suggest that IL-23 also promotes development of 'natural Th17' (nTh17) cells that arise from the thymus, analogous to natural regulatory T cells (nTreg). We are just beginning to understand the unique thymic developmental path of nTh17 cells, which are distinct from antigen-experienced memory Th17 cells. In this review, we explore the differentiation and function of inducible, natural, and memory Th17 subsets, which encompass a broad range of immune functions while maintaining tissue hemostasis, and highlight the participation of IL-23 during the life cycle of Th17 cells.
authors: Pathway Biology, Merck Research Laboratories, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1104, USA.
authors: Luis A
authors: LA
authors: Zúñiga
authors: Renu
authors: R
authors: Jain
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Haines
authors: Daniel J
authors: DJ
authors: Cua
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D000097043:Interleukin-22
chemical_list: D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D020381:Interleukin-17; D053759:Interleukin-23; D007378:Interleukins; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3; D000097043:Interleukin-22