Mechanism of Th17 cell differentiation in the intestinal lamina propria

抄録

IL-17-producing Th17 cells are a subset of CD4⁺ T cells that have been implicated in various chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Th17 cells selectively and constitutively reside in the intestinal lamina propria. Recent studies using germ-free mice indicate that the development of lamina propria Th17 cells are dependent on the stimulation by intestinal commensal bacteria. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms of intestinal Th17 synthesis in mice. We also propose a model in which commensal bacteria-derived factors, including ATP, activate a unique subset of dendritic cells, leading to the differentiation of Th17 cells in the intestinal lamina propria in situ.