The induction and function of the anti-inflammatory fate of T<sub>H</sub>17 cells.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 32620760.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-020-17097-5 and PMC identifier 7335205.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
TH17 cells exemplify environmental immune adaptation: they can acquire both a pathogenic and an anti-inflammatory fate. However, it is not known whether the anti-inflammatory fate is merely a vestigial trait, or whether it serves to preserve the integrity of the host tissues. Here we show that the capacity of TH17 cells to acquire an anti-inflammatory fate is necessary to sustain immunological tolerance, yet it impairs immune protection against S. aureus. Additionally, we find that TGF-β signalling via Smad3/Smad4 is sufficient for the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10, in TH17 cells. Our data thus indicate a key function of TH17 cell plasticity in maintaining immune homeostasis, and dissect the molecular mechanisms explaining the functional flexibility of TH17 cells with regard to environmental changes.
Medical subject headings
- Homeostasis
- Inflammation
- Interleukin-10
- Intestines
- Th17 Cells