title: T Regulatory and T Helper 17 Cells in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome: Facts and Perspectives.
abstract: Historically, primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) was thought to be a T helper (h) 1 driven disease due to the predominance of CD4(+)T lymphocytes and their products in target organs and peripheral blood of patients. In the last decades, the identification of a number of T cell subsets, including Th17, T regulatory (Treg), and follicular helper T cells, challenged this long-standing paradigm and prompted to identify their role in pSS pathogenesis. In addition the impact of abnormal proinflammatory cytokine production, such as IL-6, IL-17, IL-22, and IL-23, has also attracted considerable attention. However, although several studies have been carried out in experimental models and patients with pSS, many aspects concerning the role of Treg cells and IL-17/Th17 cell system in pSS pathogenesis are not fully elucidated. In particular, the role played by different IL-17-producing T cell subsets as well as the effects of pharmacological therapies on Treg/Th17 cell balance represents an intriguing issue. The aim of this review article is to provide an overview of current knowledge on Treg cells and IL-17-producing T cells in pSS pathogenesis. We believe that these insights into pSS pathogenesis may provide the basis for successful therapeutic intervention in this disease.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alunno
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carubbi
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Onelia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bistoni
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caterbi
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bartoloni
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mirabelli
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cannarile
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cipriani
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giacomelli
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gerli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000378:metabolism*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D000097043:Interleukin-22
chemical_list: D053759:Interleukin-23; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins; D000097043:Interleukin-22