New Insights about Treg and Th17 Cells in HIV Infection and Disease Progression

Abstract

Treg and Th17 cell subsets are characterized by the expression of specific transcriptional factors and chemokine receptor as well as by secretion of specific cytokine and chemokines. These subsets are important to the differentiation, expansion, homing capacity, and recruitment of several different immune cell populations to the site of infection. Whereas Treg cells maintain self-tolerance and control the activation and expansion of autoreactive CD4+ T effector cells through an anti-inflammatory response, Th17 cells, in an exacerbated unregulated proinflammatory response, can promote autoimmunity. Despite such apparently opposite functions, Th17 and Treg cells share common characteristics, and their differentiation pathways are interconnected. Recent studies have revealed quite intricate relations between Treg and Th17 cells in HIV infection and progression to AIDS. Considering Treg cells, different subsets were already investigated in the context of HIV infection, indicating a fluctuation in the total number and frequency throughout the disease course. This review focuses on the recent findings regarding the role of regulatory T and Th17 cells in the context of HIV infection, highlighting the importance of the balance between these two subsets on disease progression.

Glycyrrhizin, a High-Mobility Group Box 1 Inhibitor, Improves Lipid Metabolism and Suppresses Vascular Inflammation in Apolipoprotein E Knockout Mice

“…The transcription factor retinoid- related orphan receptor (ROR)-γt and the inflammatory cytokine IL-6 induce Th17 cell differentiation [6, 7]. Notably, imbalance in the Treg/Th17 ratio may influence disease progression [8]. However, the roles of Janus tyrosine kinases (JAKs) and signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) in Treg and Th17 cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival/death are poorly understood.…”

Effects of Th17 cells and IL‐17 in the progression of cervical carcinogenesis with high‐risk human papillomavirus infection

“…Also, in HSV‐1‐induced corneitis, Th17 cells were shown to enhance immunopathology, synergizing with Th1 cells . On the other hand, there are no studies that convincingly show a necessity for Th17 cells to clear a viral infection, but only a few reports elaborate that Th17 cells or their primary cytokine, IL‐17, may be necessary to prevent secondary infections in the HIV infection . All these findings suggest that Th17 cells and IL‐17 may also play an important role in the development and progression of cervical carcinogenesis with HPV Infection.…”

Glucose Metabolism in T Cells and Monocytes: New Perspectives in HIV Pathogenesis

“…Treg cells, characterized by Forkhead Box Protein 3 (Foxp3 +) expression, are an important subset capable of suppressing chronic immune activation and expansion of immune cells. Conversely, Th17 cells are characterized by IL-17 production allowing these cells to exert proinflammatory function against extracellular pathogens ( Valverde-Villegas et al, 2015 ). CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) Tregs have reduced ability to activate the PI3K/Akt pathway, a signaling pathway required for Glut1 expression and glucose metabolism ( Palmer et al, 2015a ).…”