Interleukin 17 (IL-17) has been linked to autoimmune diseases, although its regulation and function have remained unclear. Here we have evaluated in vitro and in vivo the requirements for the differentiation of naive CD4 T cells into effector T helper cells that produce IL-17. This process required the costimulatory molecules CD28 and ICOS but was independent of the cytokines and transcription factors required for T helper type 1 or type 2 differentiation. Furthermore, both IL-4 and interferon-gamma negatively regulated T helper cell production of IL-17 in the effector phase. In vivo, antibody to IL-17 inhibited chemokine expression in the brain during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, whereas overexpression of IL-17 in lung epithelium caused chemokine production and leukocyte infiltration. Thus, IL-17 expression characterizes a unique T helper lineage that regulates tissue inflammation.

A fundamental function of CD4 + helper T (T H ) cells is the regulation of B cell-mediated humoral immunity. Development of T follicular helper (T FH ) cells that provide help to B cells is mediated by the cytokines interleukin-6 and interleukin-21 but is independent of T H 1, T H 2, and T H 17 effector cell lineages. Here, we characterize the function of Bcl6, a transcription factor selectively expressed in T FH cells. Bcl6 expression is regulated by interleukin-6 and interleukin-21. Bcl6 overexpression induced T FH -related gene expression and inhibited other T H lineage cell differentiation in a DNA binding-dependent manner. Moreover, Bcl6 deficiency in T cells resulted in impaired T FH cell development and germinal center reactions, and altered production of other effector T cell subsets. Our data thus illustrate that Bcl6 is required for programming of T FH cell generation.

T cell functional differentiation is mediated by lineage-specific transcription factors. T helper 17 (Th17) has been recently identified as a distinct Th lineage mediating tissue inflammation. Retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor gamma (ROR gamma) was shown to regulate Th17 differentiation; ROR gamma deficiency, however, did not completely abolish Th17 cytokine expression. Here, we report Th17 cells highly expressed another related nuclear receptor, ROR alpha, induced by transforming growth factor-beta and interleukin-6 (IL-6), which is dependent on signal transducer and activator of transcription 3. Overexpression of ROR alpha promoted Th17 differentiation, possibly through the conserved noncoding sequence 2 in Il17-Il17f locus. ROR alpha deficiency resulted in reduced IL-17 expression in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, ROR alpha and ROR gamma coexpression synergistically led to greater Th17 differentiation. Double deficiencies in ROR alpha and ROR gamma globally impaired Th17 generation and completely protected mice against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Therefore, Th17 differentiation is directed by two lineage-specific nuclear receptors, ROR alpha and ROR gamma.

After activation, CD4+ helper T (T(H)) cells differentiate into distinct effector subsets that are characterized by their unique cytokine expression and immunoregulatory function. During this differentiation, T(H)1 and T(H)2 cells produce interferon-gamma and interleukin (IL)-4, respectively, as autocrine factors necessary for selective lineage commitment. A distinct T(H) subset, termed T(HIL-17), T(H)17 or inflammatory T(H) (T(H)i), has been recently identified as a distinct T(H) lineage mediating tissue inflammation. T(H)17 differentiation is initiated by transforming growth factor-beta and IL-6 (refs 5-7) and reinforced by IL-23 (ref. 8), in which signal transduction and activators of transcription (STAT)3 and retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor (ROR)-gamma mediate the lineage specification. T(H)17 cells produce IL-17, IL-17F and IL-22, all of which regulate inflammatory responses by tissue cells but have no importance in T(H)17 differentiation. Here we show that IL-21 is another cytokine highly expressed by mouse T(H)17 cells. IL-21 is induced by IL-6 in activated T cells, a process that is dependent on STAT3 but not ROR-gamma. IL-21 potently induces T(H)17 differentiation and suppresses Foxp3 expression, which requires STAT3 and ROR-gamma, which is encoded by Rorc. IL-21 deficiency impairs the generation of T(H)17 cells and results in protection against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. IL-21 is therefore an autocrine cytokine that is sufficient and necessary for T(H)17 differentiation, and serves as a target for treating inflammatory diseases.

Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells suppress different types of immune responses to help maintain homeostasis in the body. How Treg cells regulate humoral immunity, including germinal center reactions, is unclear. Here we identify a subset of Treg cells expressing CXCR5 and Bcl6, and localized in the germinal centers in mouse as well as human. The expression of CXCR5 on Treg cells depends on Bcl6. These CXCR5+Bcl6+ Treg cells are absent in thymus but can be de novo generated from CXCR5-Foxp3+ natural Treg precursors. Lack of CXCR5+ Treg cells leads to greater germinal center reactions. These results unveil a Bcl6-CXCR5 axis in Treg cells that undermines the development of follicular regulatory T (Tfr) cells that function to inhibit the germinal center reaction.