Helicase A determines the transcription program of T_H17 lineage differentiation and autoimmunity

T helper 17 (T_H17) lineage is governed by canonical transcriptional factors and plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases in both mice and humans. However, the precise orchestration of this transcriptional program remains poorly understood. Here, we identified a positive correlation between the expression of Dhx9, a nuclear helicase, and T_H17 lineage during the progression of autoimmune diseases. Conditional deletion of Dhx9 in T cells significantly reduced T_H17 differentiation and ameliorated the symptoms in mouse models of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Mechanistically, Dhx9 was essential for increasing chromatin accessibility at the Rorc and Il17 loci, thereby facilitating the binding of canonical factors SMAD2, SMAD3, STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3), and IRF4 (interferon regulatory factor 4) to drive the transcription of these two core T_H17-specific genes. We additionally identified Nono as an uncharacterized regulator of T_H17 differentiation that acts dependent on its interaction with Dhx9. Meanwhile, IL-6 (interleukin-6)-STAT3 signaling promotes T_H17 cell differentiation by up-regulating Dhx9 expression. We identified a potential small-molecule inhibitor of Dhx9, punicalagin, which effectively suppressed T_H17 differentiation and EAE progression. These findings uncover a mechanism orchestrating the transcriptional program of T_H17 lineage commitment and highlight its therapeutic potential for autoimmune disease intervention.