Are Th17 cells and their cytokines a therapeutic target in Guillain–Barré syndrome?

Abstract

Introduction: Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) is an immune-mediated inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN) is a useful animal model for studying GBS. Currently, GBS remains a life-threatening disorder and more effective therapeutic strategies are in urgent need.

Areas covered: Accumulating evidence has revealed that T helper (Th) 17 cells and their cytokines are pathogenic in GBS/EAN. Drugs attenuated clinical signs of GBS/EAN, in part, by decreasing Th17 cells or IL-17A. Th17 cells and their cytokines might be potential therapeutic targets. Approaches targeting Th17 cells or their cytokines are in development in treating Th17 cells-involved disorders. In this review, we summarize the up-to-date knowledge on roles of Th17 cells and their cytokines in GBS/EAN, as well potential approaches targeting Th17 cells and their cytokines as clinical applications.

Expert opinion: As Th17 cells produce different sets of pro-inflammatory cytokines and Th17-related cytokines are not exclusively produced by Th17 cells, targeting Th17 cell development may be superior to blocking a single Th17 cytokine to treat Th17 cells-involved disorders. Considering the essential role of retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γT (RORγT) and IL-23 in Th17 cell development, RORγT inhibitors or IL-23 antagonists may provide better clinical efficacy in treating GBS/EAN.

Keywords:

• cytokine
• experimental autoimmune neuritis
• Guillain–Barré syndrome
• T helper cell
• Th17 cell

Declaration of interest

The work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81271294, 81241147 and 81471216), the Young Scholars Program of Norman Bethune Health Science Center of Jilin University (No. 2013205035), the Young Scholars Program of the First Hospital of Jilin University (No. JDYY42013003), and the Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars, State Education Ministry (3C113BK73428), as well as the grants from Swedish Research Council (K2013-66X-22337-01-3) and the First Hospital of Jilin University of China. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Notes

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