Effects of immunosuppressive agents on T h17 cells involved in transplantation

The lymphocyte‐derived helper T ( T h) cells are critical regulators of the adaptive immune response and are associated with inflammatory disease. The most recently recognized T h‐cell lineage, T h17, plays an important role in host defense against extracellular pathogens by secreting the proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin 17, and recruiting reactive oxygen species ( ROS )‐producing monocytes to the site of infection. However, accumulating evidence has implicated T h17‐cell dysregulation as an underlying cause for some immune‐related pathogenic conditions, including allograft rejection. Recent studies of human transplant patients have indicated that T h17 cells exhibit resistance to current immunosuppressive therapies that would otherwise prevent allograft rejection. In this review, we will discuss the most current research findings related to T h17‐cell function in various kinds of allografts.