title: IL-23 responsive innate-like T cells in spondyloarthritis: the less frequent they are, the more vital they appear.
abstract: A key role for the IL-23/IL-17 immune axis in spondyloarthritis (SpA) is supported by cumulative evidence from genetic and translational studies and was recently confirmed in clinical trials. Although initially linked to T helper 17 cells, it is now clear that additional unconventional T cell subpopulations respond towards IL-23, including RORγt(+) CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(-) T cells, TCRγδ17 cells, KIR3DL2(+)CD4(+) T cells and iNKT17 cells. Although these innate-like T cells are present only at low frequencies and often with a specific tissue distribution, it is proposed that they could play a vital function in the development or progression of SpA-related pathology. In this review, we highlight the emerging knowledge on these specialized IL-23 responsive T cells with regard to their relevance in SpA. Finally, we will discuss these findings in light of novel drugs targeting the IL-23/IL-17 axis, currently being tested in SpA patients.
authors: Laboratory for Molecular Immunology and Inflammation, Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium, koen.venken@ugent.be.
authors: Koen
authors: K
authors: Venken
authors: Dirk
authors: D
authors: Elewaut
mesh_terms: D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000276:immunology; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D025241:Spondylarthritis / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17; D053759:Interleukin-23