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. 2013 Feb 27;2(1):94-106.
Print 2013.

Regulatory T cells vs Th17: differentiation of Th17 versus Treg, are the mutually exclusive?

Song Guo Zheng  1
Affiliations

Regulatory T cells vs Th17: differentiation of Th17 versus Treg, are the mutually exclusive?

Song Guo Zheng. Am J Clin Exp Immunol. .

Abstract

Naive CD4(+) cells differentiate into T helper (Th1, Th2, Th9, Th17) and regulatory T (Treg) cells to execute their immunologic function. Whereas TGF-β suppresses Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation, this cytokine promotes Th9, Th17 and Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells depending upon the presence of other cytokines. IL-6 promotes Th17, but suppresses regulatory T cell differentiation. Moreover, natural but not TGF-β-induced regulatory T cells convert into Th17 cells in the inflammatory milieu. Here an update of T cell differentiation and conversion, as well as underlying mechanisms are given.

Keywords: Foxp3+ regulatory T cells; T helper cells; Tfh; Th1; Th17; Th2; Th9; autoimmunity; cytokine; differentiation.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Multi effects of TGF-β on regulatory and effector T cells and interrelation between Treg and T effector cells. TGF-β inhibits the differentiation, proliferation and function of various immune cells including Th1, Th2 and Tfh cells. TGF-β also promotes iTreg, Th9 and Th17 cell differentiation depending upon the cytokine environment. Additionally, TGF-β inhibits maturation and function of other immune cells such as CD8+ CTL, NK cell, DC and macrophages. Both nTregs and iTregs suppress Th1 and Th2, only iTregs suppress Th17 cells. nTregs convert into Th1, Th2, Th17 and Tfh cells and lost suppressive activity, iTregs are resistant to T effector cell conversion except Th1 but maintaining suppressive activity.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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