Th17 cells: A new target in kidney disease research

Abstract

Type 17 T helper (Th17) cells, which are a subtype of CD4⁺ T helper cells, secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, IL-22, and GM-CSF, which play crucial roles in immune defence and protection against fungal and extracellular pathogen invasion. However, dysfunction of Th17 cell immunity mediates inflammatory responses and exacerbates tissue damage. This pathological process initiated by Th17 cells is common in kidney diseases associated with renal injury, such as glomerulonephritis, lupus nephritis, IgA nephropathy, hypertensive nephropathy, diabetic kidney disease and acute kidney injury. Therefore, targeting Th17 cells to treat kidney diseases has been a hot topic in recent years. This article reviews the mechanisms of Th17 cell-mediated inflammation and autoimmune responses in kidney diseases and discusses the related clinical drugs that modulate Th17 cell fate in kidney disease treatment.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY

IL-17 and IL-17-producing cells (mainly Th17 cells) are crucial for kidney diseases. Multiple factors and mechanisms are involved in Th17 cell polarization, including oxidative stress, abnormal glucolipid metabolism, miRNA dysfunction, and microbial metabolism. This pathological process initiated by Th17 cells is common in kidney diseases associated with renal injury, such as glomerulonephritis, lupus nephritis, IgA nephropathy, hypertensive nephropathy, diabetic kidney disease and acute kidney injury. Modulating the direction of Th17 cell differentiation is a highly attractive therapeutic approach. This article reviews the mechanisms of Th17 cell-mediated inflammation and autoimmune responses in kidney diseases and discusses the related clinical drugs that modulate Th17 cell fate in kidney disease treatment.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• IL-17
• immune
• inflammation
• kidney disease
• Th17 cell

Author contributions

Tao Zhang contributes to framework design, writing and tabulation; Hongyan Huo contributes to writing of some chapters and data acquisition; Yinghui Zhang contributes to drawing and the references check; Jie Tao contributes to references check; Junzheng Yang contributes to critical revision of important intellectual content; Xianglu Rong contributes to critical revision of important intellectual content; Yiqi Yang contributed to concept, direction, ctitical revision and final approval of the version to be published. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

Declaration of Interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China [#82204704], Science and Technology Project of Guangzhou [#2024A04J9912], Project of Department of Education of Guangdong Province[#2022KQNCX031].