Abstract
Th17 cells are potent mediators in autoimmune diseases, and RORγt is required for their development. Recent studies have shown that RORγt+ Treg cells in the gut regulate intestinal inflammation by inhibiting effector T cell function. In the current study, we report that RORγt+ Treg cells were also found in lymph nodes following immunization. Not only distinct from intestinal RORγt+ Treg cells in their transcriptomes, peripheral RORγt+ Treg cells were derived from Foxp3+ thymic Treg cells in an antigen-specific manner. Development of these RORγt+ Treg cells, coined T regulatory 17 (Tr17) cells, depended on IL-6/Stat3 signaling. Tr17 cells showed suppressive activity against antigen-specific effector T cells in vitro. In addition, Tr17 cells efficiently inhibited myelin-specific Th17-cell-mediated CNS auto-inflammation in a passive EAE model. Collectively, our study demonstrates that Tr17 cells are effector Treg cells that potentially restrict autoimmunity. Kim et al. find that RORγt+Foxp3+ T regulatory 17 (Tr17) cells are induced in lymph nodes after immunization. Tr17 cells are generated from thymic Treg cells in an antigen-specific manner through Stat3 signaling. Their data suggest that Tr17 cells represent antigen-specific effector Treg cells that can regulate Th17-cell-dependent autoimmunity.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 195-207 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | Cell Reports |
Volume | 21 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 3 2017 |
Keywords
- Foxp3
- IL-17
- RORγt
- Tr17
- Treg
- autoimmunity
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology