Circulating and gut-resident human Th17 cells express CD161 and promote intestinal inflammation

• DOI: 10.1084/jem.20081712
• Publication Date: 2009-03-10T01:23:50Z
• Authors: Melanie A. Kleins...; Katia Boniface; Svetlana Sadekova; Jeff Grein; Erin E. Murphy; Scott P. Turner; Lisa Raskin; Bela Desai; William A. Faubion; Rene de Waal Malefyt; Robert H. Pierce; Terrill McClanahan; Robert A. Kastelein
• Keywords: Priming (agriculture)

The C-type lectin-like receptor CD161, which has recently been described to promote T cell expansion, is expressed on a discrete subset of human CD4 cells. function such cells, however, remained elusive. We now demonstrate that CD161+ cells comprise circulating and gut-resident helper 17 (Th17) population. During Crohn's disease (CD), these display an activated Th17 phenotype, as indicated by increased expression interleukin (IL)-17, IL-22, IL-23 receptor. from CD patients readily produce IL-17 interferon γ upon stimulation with IL-23, whereas, in healthy subjects, priming additional inflammatory stimuli IL-1β was required enable IL-23–induced cytokine release. Circulating are imprinted for gut homing, high levels CC chemokine 6 integrin β7 expression. Supporting their colitogenic were found numbers the infiltrate lesions induced mediators intestinal Our data identify resting pool can be mediate destructive tissue inflammation.