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Updated: May 28, 2026
12:59
Isolation and Th17 Differentiation of Naïve CD4 T Lymphocytes
Published on: September 26, 2013
Human TH17 cells are long-lived effector memory cells
Ilona Kryczek1, Ende Zhao, Yan Liu
1Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Science Translational Medicine
|October 15, 2011
Summary
Human T helper 17 (TH17) cells are long-lived effector cells that persist and proliferate. Targeting TH17 pathways may treat autoimmune diseases and cancer.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- T helper 17 (TH17) cells are implicated in various diseases.
- Human TH17 cell function and regulation are poorly understood, hindering therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate human TH17 cell phenotype, survival, and regulatory mechanisms in disease contexts.
- Determine the therapeutic potential of targeting TH17 cells.
Main Methods:
- Studied human TH17 cells in pathological microenvironments (GVHD, UC, cancer).
- Analyzed TH17 cell phenotype, survival, and gene expression.
- Performed in vivo adoptive transfer experiments.
- Investigated the role of HIF-1α and Notch signaling.
Main Results:
- Increased TH17 cell numbers in chronic disease phases.
- TH17 cells resemble terminally differentiated memory T cells but are distinct from exhausted/senescent cells.
- TH17 cells exhibit self-renewal, persistence, apoptotic resistance, and plasticity.
- Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and Notch collaboratively regulate antiapoptotic genes in TH17 cells.
Conclusions:
- Human TH17 cells are long-lived, proliferating effector memory T cells with unique characteristics.
- Targeting TH17-associated signaling pathways offers therapeutic potential for autoimmune diseases and cancer.
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