title: The role of interleukin-17 in immune-mediated inflammatory myopathies and possible therapeutic implications.
abstract: The idiopathic inflammatory myopathies are a heterogeneous group of autoimmune muscle disorders with distinct clinical and pathological features and underlying immunopathogenic mechanisms. Traditionally, CD4(+) Th1 cells or CD8(+) cytotoxic effector T cells and type I/II interferons have been primarily implicated in the pathogenesis of the inflammatory myopathies. The presence of IL-17A producing cells in the inflamed muscle tissue of myositis patients and the results of in vitro studies suggest that IL-17A and the Th17 pathway may also have a key role in these diseases. The contribution of IL-17A to other chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases has been well established and clinical trials of IL-17A inhibitors are now at an advanced stage. However the precise role of IL-17A in the various forms of myositis and the potential for therapeutic targeting is currently unknown and warrants further investigation.
authors: Institute for Immunology & Infectious Diseases (IIID), Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia. Electronic address: e.moran@iiid.com.au.
authors: Ellen M
authors: EM
authors: Moran
authors: Institute for Immunology & Infectious Diseases (IIID), Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia; Western Australian Neuroscience Research Institute, Centre for Neuromuscular & Neurological Disorders, University of Western Australia, Australia.
authors: Frank L
authors: FL
authors: Mastaglia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009187:Myelitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17
keywords: Dermatomyositis; IL-17A; Inclusion body myositis; Inflammatory myopathies; Polymyositis; Th17