title: Th22 cells in autoimmunity: a review of current knowledge.
abstract: Newly identified T helper cell 22 (Th22) is a subset of CD4+ T cells with specific properties apart from other known CD4+ T cell subsets. Th22 is obviously discrete from Th17 and Th1 subsets by production of interleukin (IL)-22 but not IL-17 or IFN-γ, and also with distinguished expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) as the key transcription factor. This T helper subset, by producing pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-22 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), is implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and autoimmune disorder. This review discusses the role of Th22 and its cytokine IL-22 in the immunopathogenesis of autoimmune disease including acute coronary syndrome, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Behçet's disease, type 1 and 2 diabetes and immune thrombocytopenia.
authors.affiliation: Imam Hassan Mojtaba Hospital, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran. Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Azizi
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yazdani
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Box: 6446, Iran, Fax: +98 21 88954913, E-mail: mirshafiey@tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mirshafiey
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D000097043:Interleukin-22
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D000097043:Interleukin-22
keywords: IL-22; Th22; autoimmune disease; autoimmunity