Th17 cells and its roles in asthma and allergy diseases / 国际儿科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Th17 cells were identified as an independent lineage of CD4+ T cells that secrete a distinctive set of immunoregulatory cytokines, which play an important role in the pathogenesis of a diverse group of immune-mediated diseases. Recent data in humans and mice trials suggest that as the hallmark cytokine of Th17 cells, IL-17 involved in the inducement and the inflammation of allergy, such as asthma. IL-17 induces chemokine IL-8, and prominently recruits neutrophils in the airways in severe asthma exacerbations and may contribute to airway gland hypersecretion, bronchial hyper-reactivity and airway wall remodelling in asthma. Given the strong association between excessive Th17 activity and human diseases, new therapeutic approaches targeting Th17 cells are highly promising, but the potential clinical application need further investigation.