Steroid-resistant asthma comprises an important source of morbidity in patient populations. TH17 cells represent a distinct population of CD4+ Th cells that mediate neutrophilic inflammation and are characterized by the production of IL-17, IL-22, and IL-6. To investigate the function of TH17 cells in the context of Ag-induced airway inflammation, we polarized naive CD4+ T cells from DO11.10 OVA-specific TCR-transgenic mice to a TH2 or TH17 phenotype by culturing in conditioned medium. In addition, we also tested the steroid responsiveness of TH2 and TH17 cells. In vitro, TH17 cytokine responses were not sensitive to dexamethasone (DEX) treatment despite immunocytochemistry confirming glucocorticoid receptor translocation to the nucleus following treatment. Transfer of TH2 cells to mice challenged with OVA protein resulted in lymphocyte and eosinophil emigration into the lung that was markedly reduced by DEX treatment, whereas TH17 transfer resulted in increased CXC chemokine secretion and neutrophil influx that was not attenuated by DEX. Transfer of TH17 or TH2 cells was sufficient to induce airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to methacholine. Interestingly, AHR was not attenuated by DEX in the TH17 group. These data demonstrate that polarized Ag-specific T cells result in specific lung pathologies. Both TH2 and TH17 cells are able to induce AHR, whereas TH17 cell-mediated airway inflammation and AHR are steroid resistant, indicating a potential role for TH17 cells in steroid-resistant asthma.

Conti et al. show that IL-17 is produced by tongue-resident populations of γδ T cells and nTh17 cells in response to oropharyngeal candidiasis in mice.

SUMMARY Th17 cells and CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells are thought to promote and suppress inflammatory responses, respectively. Here we explore why under Th17 cell conditions, Treg cells did not suppress, but rather up-regulated the expression of interleukin-17A (IL-17A), IL-17F and IL-22 from responding CD4+ cells (Tresp). Up-regulation of IL-17 cytokines in Tresp cells was dependent on consumption of IL-2 by Treg cells especially at early time points both in vitro and in vivo. During an oral Candida albicans infection in mice, Treg cells induced IL-17 cytokines in Tresp cells, which markedly enhanced fungal clearance and recovery from infection. These findings show how Treg cells can promote acute Th17 cell responses to suppress mucosal fungus infections and reveal that Treg cells have a powerful capability to fight infections besides their role in maintaining tolerance or immune homeostasis.

Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) is an opportunistic infection caused by Candida albicans. Despite its prevalence, little is known about C. albicans-specific immunity in the oral mucosa. Vaccines against Candida generate both Th1 and Th17 responses, and considerable evidence implicates IL-17 in immunity to OPC. However, IL-17 is also produced by innate immune cells that are remarkably similar to Th17 cells, expressing the same markers and localizing to similar mucosal sites. To date, the relative contribution(s) of Th1, Th17 and innate IL-17-producing cells in OPC have not been clearly defined. Here, we sought to determine the nature and function of adaptive T cell responses to OPC, using a new recall infection model. Mice subjected to infection and re-challenge with Candida mounted a robust and stable antigen specific IL-17 response in CD4+ but not CD8+ T cells. There was little evidence for Th1 or Th1/Th17 responses. The Th17 response promoted accelerated fungal clearance, and Th17 cells could confer protection in Rag1−/− mice upon adoptive transfer. Surprisingly, CD4 deficiency did not cause OPC, but was instead associated with compensatory IL-17 production by Tc17 and CD4-CD8-CD3+ cells. Therefore, classic CD4+Th17 cells protect from OPC, but can be compensated by other IL-17-producing cells in CD4-deficient hosts.

Material Supplementary 9.DC1http://www.jimmunol.org/content/suppl/2010/06/16/jimmunol.090373