Transcription Factors Involved in Th17 Differentiation

T Helper-17 Differentiation and Function In the past decade, increasing attention has been focused on a subset of CD4 T cells, commonly known as T helper-17 (Th17) cells, which on differentiation specializes in the secretion of interleukin (IL)-17, and also others factors, such as IL-21, granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and IL-6. IL-17 cytokine family consists of 6 members; among them, the major isoform is IL-17A (referred to here as IL-17). Apart from Th17 cells, IL-17 is also produced by selective cell subtypes, including γδ T cells, natural killer cells, and natural killer-T cells. Th17 may be generated in the thymus and are then called natural Th17 (nTh17) cells, but can also be induced in the periphery from naïve cells or result from the conversion of other cell types.