title: In Vitro Immunomodulatory Effects of Human Corneal Stromal Cells on Human Th17 Cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the immunomodulatory effects of human corneal stromal cells on the function of Th17 cells, in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Th17 cells were co-cultured with corneal stromal cells with or without 1-methyltryptophan, 1400w dihydrochloride, interleukin (IL)-10 inhibitor, or transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) inhibitor. The secretion of IL-17A by Th17 cells and the upregulation of T regulatory (Treg) cell frequencies were evaluated. Transwell assays were conducted to evaluate whether the immunomodulatory effects of stromal cells were dependent on cell-to-cell contact.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Corneal stromal cells suppressed the secretive function of Th17 cells and upregulated Treg cell frequencies, enhancing TGF-β. Tranwell assays showed similar immunomodulatory effects of the stromal cells on the function of Th17 cells. TGF-β inhibitors attenuated the suppressive effects of the stromal cells on the function of Th17 cells, whereas other inhibitors didn't.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It which indicates that human corneal stromal cells suppress the function of Th17 cells through a TGF-β-dependent pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; and Laboratory of Ocular Regenerative Medicine and Immunology, Seoul Artificial Eye Center, Seoul National University Hospital Clinical Research Institute , Seoul , Korea and.
authors.forename: Jong Joo
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jin Suk
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Hyun Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Mee Kum
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Won Ryang
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Wee
mesh_terms: D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta
keywords: Cornea; IL-17; T cells; T regulatory cells; TGF-β; Th17 cells; stromal cells