Th17 and Treg Cells, Two New Lymphocyte Subpopulations with a Key Role in the Immune Response Against Infection

Title: Th17 and Treg Cells, Two New Lymphocyte Subpopulations with a Key Role in the Immune Response Against Infection

Volume: 8 Issue: 4

Author(s): Rolando Vernal and Jose A. Garcia-Sanz

Affiliation:

Keywords: T lymphocytes, T cells, T cell subsets, helper T cells, Th17, RORC2, RORγt, regulatory T cells, Treg cells, Foxp3

Abstract: In addition to the T helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 lymphocyte subsets, two new subpopulations Th17 and regulatory T (Treg) cells have recently been described. Th17 cells, which produce high levels of interleukin (IL)-17, are dependent on the transcription factor orphan nuclear receptor RORC2/RORγt and have been implicated in exacerbating the immune response to infections. Conversely, Treg cells, either thymus-derived or generated upon TCR activation of naïve T cells, express the transcription factor forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) and have regulatory functions mediated through either direct cell-cell contact or immuno-suppressive cytokines, being able to suppress the activation of T, B and NK cells. Based on the current knowledge of Th17 and Treg cell functions, new therapeutic strategies start to emerge, involving anti-cytokine treatments targeting Th17 functions or cell-based treatments in which Treg cells are generated from T cells either through Foxp3 gene transfer onto T cells with known specificities or transferring specific TCR genes onto Treg cells.

Cite this article as:

Vernal Rolando and Garcia-Sanz A. Jose, Th17 and Treg Cells, Two New Lymphocyte Subpopulations with a Key Role in the Immune Response Against Infection, Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets 2008; 8 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152608786734197