title: Th17 plasticity: pathophysiology and treatment of chronic inflammatory disorders.
abstract: CD4+ T cells can be classified from a functional point of view in different lineages, the most extensively studied being the Th1, Th2, and Th17. Recent evidence suggest that the acquisition of a certain phenotype is not irreversible, and lymphocytes can acquire features of different effector fates upon adequate stimuli. In particular, Th17 lymphocytes in inflammatory conditions can start to produce IFN-γ or IL-4, shifting towards a Th17/Th1 or Th17/Th2 phenotype, respectively. Th17/Th1 and Th17/Th2 cells, seems to be more pathogenic than the unshifted cells. The possibility to interfere with this modulation of phenotype can be considered a possible target for developing novel therapeutic strategies in those inflammatory conditions in which the shifting of Th17 cells, particularly towards the Th1 phenotype, can occur.
authors: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and DENOTHE Center, University of Florence, Florence 50134, Italy; Regenerative Medicine Unit and Immunology and Cellular Therapy Unit of Azienda Ospedaliera Careggi, Florence 50134, Italy.
authors: Lorenzo
authors: L
authors: Cosmi
authors: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and DENOTHE Center, University of Florence, Florence 50134, Italy; Regenerative Medicine Unit and Immunology and Cellular Therapy Unit of Azienda Ospedaliera Careggi, Florence 50134, Italy.
authors: Veronica
authors: V
authors: Santarlasci
authors: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and DENOTHE Center, University of Florence, Florence 50134, Italy; Regenerative Medicine Unit and Immunology and Cellular Therapy Unit of Azienda Ospedaliera Careggi, Florence 50134, Italy.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Maggi
authors: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and DENOTHE Center, University of Florence, Florence 50134, Italy; Regenerative Medicine Unit and Immunology and Cellular Therapy Unit of Azienda Ospedaliera Careggi, Florence 50134, Italy.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Liotta
authors: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and DENOTHE Center, University of Florence, Florence 50134, Italy; Regenerative Medicine Unit and Immunology and Cellular Therapy Unit of Azienda Ospedaliera Careggi, Florence 50134, Italy. Electronic address: francesco.annunziato@unifi.it.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Annunziato
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D010641:Phenotype; D015398:Signal Transduction; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators