Role of IL-23 and Th17 Cells in Airway Inflammation in Asthma.
- Author:
Hiroshi NAKAJIMA
1
;
Koichi HIROSE
Author Information
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords: Asthma; Eosinophils; Neutrophils; IL-17; IL-23; Th17 cells
- MeSH: Asthma; Cytokines; Eosinophils; Inflammation; Interleukin-13; Interleukin-17; Interleukin-23; Interleukin-4; Interleukin-5; Lymphocytes; Mucus; Neutrophils; T-Lymphocytes; Th17 Cells; Th2 Cells
- From:Immune Network 2010;10(1):1-4
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: Asthma is characterized by chronic airway inflammation with intense eosinophil and lymphocyte infiltration, mucus hyperproduction, and airway hyperresponsiveness. Accumulating evidence indicates that antigen-specific Th2 cells and their cytokines such as IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 orchestrate these pathognomonic features of asthma. In addition, we and others have recently shown that IL-17-producing CD4+ T cells (Th17 cells) and IL-23, an IL-12-related cytokine that is essential for survival and functional maturation of Th17 cells, are involved in antigen-induced airway inflammation. In this review, our current understanding of the roles of IL-23 and Th17 cells in the pathogenesis of allergic airway inflammation will be summarized.
