When worlds collide: Th17 and Treg cells in cancer and autoimmunity
Open accessAbstract
The balance between Th17 cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs) has emerged as a prominent factor in regulating autoimmunity and cancer. Th17 cells are vital for host defense against pathogens but have also been implicated in causing autoimmune disorders and cancer, though their role in carcinogenesis is less well understood. Tregs are required for self-tolerance and defense against autoimmunity and often correlate with cancer progression. This review addresses the importance of a functional homeostasis between these two subsets in health and the consequences of its disruption when these forces collide in disease. Importantly, we discuss the ability of Th17 cells to mediate cancer regression in immunotherapy, including adoptive transfer and checkpoint blockade therapy, and the therapeutic possibilities of purposefully offsetting the Th17/Treg balance to treat patients with cancer as well as those with autoimmune diseases.
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Several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease, show a bias for Th17 cells over Treg cells.
“In line with these findings, several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, including RA, MS and inflammatory bowel disease show a bias for Th17 cells over Treg cells (163).”
From IL-6 in inflammation, autoimmunity and cancer (2021) · cites this paper as [163]
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- Authors
- Knochelmann, H. M., Dwyer, C. J., Bailey, S. R., Amaya, S. M., Elston, D. M., Mazza-McCrann, J. M., & Paulos, C. M.
- Affiliations
- Medical University of South Carolina (US)
- Corresponding author
- Knochelmann, Hannah M.
- Paulos, Chrystal M.
- Venue
- Cellular & Molecular Immunology
- Published
- 2018-03-21
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 458-469
- ISSN
- 1672-7681 (ISSN-L)
- 2042-0226
- PMC
- PMC6068176
- OpenAlex
- W2793633504
- Cited by
- 535
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2026: 37 · 2025: 83 · 2024: 86 · 2023: 89 · 2022: 82 · 2021: 78 · 2020: 48 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 7
- FWCI
- 4.06
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Medical University of South Carolina (UL1TR000062)
- National Institutes of Health (UL1TR000062, TR000062)
- National Cancer Institute (F31CA192787, R01CA175061, R01CA208514)
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences (T32GM008716)
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (T32AI132164)
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › T-cell and B-cell Immunology
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Psoriasis: Treatment and Pathogenesis
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers
- Keywords
- Th17 cells, regulatory T cells, Th17/Treg balance, autoimmunity, tumor immunology, self-tolerance, cancer immunotherapy, adoptive T cell therapy, immune checkpoint blockade, tumor regression, autoimmune disease therapy
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Autoimmune Diseases, Humans, Neoplasms, Autoimmunity, Adoptive Transfer, T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory, Th17 Cells
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