Autoimmune diseases in the TH17 era: [review]
Braz. j. med. biol. res
; 42(6): 476-486, June 2009. ilus, tab
Article
en En
| LILACS
| ID: lil-512764
Biblioteca responsable:
BR1.1
ABSTRACT
A new subtype of CD4+ T lymphocytes characterized by the production of interleukin 17, i.e., TH17 cells, has been recently described. This novel T cell subset is distinct from type 1 and type 2 T helper cells. The major feature of this subpopulation is to generate significant amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines, therefore appearing to be critically involved in protection against infection caused by extracellular microorganisms, and in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and allergy. The dynamic balance among subsets of T cells is important for the modulation of several steps of the immune response. Disturbances in this balance may cause a shift from normal immunologic physiology to the development of immune-mediated disorders. In autoimmune diseases, the fine balance between the proportion and degree of activation of the various T lymphocyte subsets can contribute to persistent undesirable inflammatory responses and tissue replacement by fibrosis. This review highlights the importance of TH17 cells in this process by providing an update on the biology of these cells and focusing on their biology and differentiation processes in the context of immune-mediated chronic inflammatory diseases.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Índice:
LILACS
Asunto principal:
Enfermedades Autoinmunes
/
Subgrupos de Linfocitos T
Límite:
Animals
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Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Braz. j. med. biol. res
Asunto de la revista:
BIOLOGIA
/
MEDICINA
Año:
2009
Tipo del documento:
Article
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Project document