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T‐helper 17 cell: A distinctive cell in liver diseases
Author(s) -
Ye Chao,
Li Wenyuan,
Zheng Minghua,
Chen Yongping
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
hepatology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.123
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1872-034X
pISSN - 1386-6346
DOI - 10.1111/j.1872-034x.2010.00744.x
Subject(s) - immunology , autoimmunity , pathogenesis , effector , biology , immune system , hepatocellular carcinoma , population , carcinogenesis , cell , cancer research , medicine , cancer , genetics , environmental health
T‐helper (Th)17 cells, a new population of effector CD4 + T cells, are characterized by the secretion of interleukin (IL)‐17. It has been demonstrated that Th17 cells are distinct from Th1 and Th2 cells; they play important roles in the pathogenesis of numerous inflammatory and autoimmune diseases; and are closely related to host defense, tumorigenesis and transplant rejection. Moreover, it has been found that these cells have a close and intricate connection with the regulatory T cells, which play an important role in maintaining self‐tolerance and down‐tuning immune responses. In the present review, we find that they are significantly elevated in various kinds of liver diseases including liver autoimmunity and inflammatory diseases, alcoholic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma.