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IL-17: overview and role in oral immunity and microbiome
L Abusleme1, N M Moutsopoulos1
1Oral Immunity and Inflammation Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
None:
Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is a multifaceted cytokine with diverse roles in both immune protection and also immunopathology. IL-17 has a well-recognized role in immune surveillance at mucosal and barrier surfaces, but also has been increasingly implicated as a driver of immunopathology in settings of autoimmunity and chronic inflammation. The current review introduces basic aspects of IL-17 biology and examines the protective and pathogenic roles of IL-17 with a focus on oral mucosal immunity and inflammation. Specific emphasis is given to the role of the IL-17 response as a catalyst in 'shaping the microbiome at the oral barrier'.
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