Peritoneal adhesions induce T_h17/Treg imbalance in mice

Naïve CD4⁺ T cells differentiate to a distinct subset to mount specific inflammatory responses while minimizing self-reactivity. Recent work has identified that an imbalance between T helper (T_h) 17 cell and regulatory T (Treg) cells is involved in the pathophysiology of tumor immune responses. The factors that modulate the development of T_h17 and Treg cells are variable but still unclear. Peritoneal adhesion is a common complication of surgery and peritonitis, which can lead to abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, and infertility. In this study, we examined the role of peritoneal adhesions in development of T_h17 and Treg cells and discovered that adhesions reduced proliferation of T_h17 cells and promoted the Tregs. in particular we found that adhesion modulated the activity of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) 5 which was critical for the development of T_h17 and Treg cells.