Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Isolation and Th17 Differentiation of Naïve CD4 T Lymphocytes
Published on: September 26, 2013
[The differentiation and regulation of antigen-specific Th17 cells]
1Department of Immunology, State Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China. yangjing.811023@yahoo.com.cn
Aim:
To assess the differentiation and regulation of antigen specific Th17 cells in vitro.
Methods:
Naive CD4(+) T cells from OVA-TCR-transgenic mice (OVA-TCR-Tg) were isolated and co-cultured with splenocytes from normal BALB/c mice under different culture conditions. The expression and production of IL-17 and other cytokines were assessed.
Results:
OVA peptide alone mainly induced Th1 type responses. Addition of TGF-beta plus IL-6 induced Th17 response. Furthermore, addition of IL-23 to cell culture could promote the differentiation of Th17 cells. Blocking of IFN-gamma and IL-4 by neutralizing monoclonal antibodies enhanced the percentage of IL-17-producing cells. LPS could promote the production of Th1 cytokines but had no significant effect on IL-17 expression.
Conclusion:
Antigen specific Th17 cells are distinct from antigen specific Th1 and Th2 cells. TGF-beta, IL-6 and IL-23 are the factors responsible for promoting the differentiation and development of Th17 subset, whereas IFN-gamma and IL-4 have inhibitory effects.
Related Concept Videos
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
B Cell Activation and Differentiation
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
Special Features of Adaptive Immunity
The primary cell types involved in adaptive immunity are T cells and B cells. Each type has a unique role in defending the body against pathogens. T cells are responsible for cell-mediated immunity. They identify and eliminate infected cells directly,...
Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response
Diversity of Antigen Receptors
Before encountering any antigen, lymphocytes express these receptors. On B cells, the antigen receptor is a membrane-bound antibody molecule called BCR; on T cells, it is a T cell receptor or TCR. B and T cell receptors are composed of two...

