Abstract
We demonstrate that CD161 is a highly up-regulated gene in human interleukin (IL) 17 T helper cell (Th17) clones and that all IL-17-producing cells are contained in the CD161(+) fraction of CD4(+) T cells present in the circulation or in inflamed tissues, although they are not CD1-restricted natural killer T cells. More importantly, we show that all IL-17-producing cells originate from CD161(+) naive CD4(+) T cells of umbilical cord blood, as well as of the postnatal thymus, in response to the combined activity of IL-1 beta and IL-23. These findings implicate CD161 as a novel surface marker for human Th17 cells and demonstrate the exclusive origin of these cells from a CD161(+)CD4(+) T cell progenitor.
Publication types
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
- Adult
- Antigens, Surface / genetics*
- Antigens, Surface / metabolism*
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
- Case-Control Studies
- Cell Differentiation
- Crohn Disease / genetics
- Crohn Disease / immunology
- Fetal Blood / cytology
- Fetal Blood / immunology
- Hematopoietic Stem Cells / cytology
- Hematopoietic Stem Cells / immunology
- Humans
- Infant, Newborn
- Inflammation / genetics
- Inflammation / immunology
- Inflammation / pathology
- Interleukin-17 / biosynthesis*
- Lectins, C-Type / genetics*
- Lectins, C-Type / metabolism*
- NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B
- Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3
- Psoriasis / genetics
- Psoriasis / immunology
- RNA, Messenger / genetics
- RNA, Messenger / metabolism
- Receptors, Interleukin / genetics
- Receptors, Retinoic Acid / genetics
- Receptors, Thyroid Hormone / genetics
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets / cytology
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
- Th1 Cells / cytology
- Th1 Cells / immunology
- Th2 Cells / cytology
- Th2 Cells / immunology
- Thymus Gland / cytology
- Thymus Gland / immunology
- Up-Regulation
Substances
- Antigens, Surface
- IL23R protein, human
- Interleukin-17
- KLRB1 protein, human
- Lectins, C-Type
- NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B
- Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3
- RNA, Messenger
- RORC protein, human
- Receptors, Interleukin
- Receptors, Retinoic Acid
- Receptors, Thyroid Hormone