Human CD25highFoxp3pos regulatory T cells differentiate into IL-17–producing cells

The effector T-cell lineage shows great plasticity. Th17 cells are acknowledged to be instrumental in the response against microbial infection, but are also associated with autoimmune inflammatory processes. Here, we report that human regulatory T cells (CD4(pos)CD25(high)Foxp3(pos)CD127(neg)CD27(pos)) can differentiate into IL-17-producing cells, when stimulated by allogeneic antigen-presenting cells, especially monocytes, in the presence of rhIL-2/rhIL-15. These regulatory T cell (Treg)-derived IL-17-producing cells showed high expression of the Th17-related transcription factor RORgammat and were positively identified by CCR6 expression. This differentiation process was enhanced by exogenous IL-1beta,…

• RU
  Radboud Universiteit
• RU
  Radboud Universitair Medisch Centrum