Type 17 immunity: novel insights into intestinal homeostasis and autoimmune pathogenesis driven by gut-primed T cells

Abstract

The IL-23 signaling pathway in both innate and adaptive immune cells is vital for orchestrating type 17 immunity, which is marked by the secretion of signature cytokines such as IL-17, IL-22, and GM-CSF. These proinflammatory mediators play indispensable roles in maintaining intestinal immune equilibrium and mucosal host defense; however, their involvement has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory disorders, such as inflammatory bowel diseases and autoimmunity. However, the implications of type 17 immunity across diverse inflammation models are complex. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted roles of these cytokines in maintaining gut homeostasis and in perturbing gut barrier integrity, leading to acute and chronic inflammation in various models of gut infection and colitis. Additionally, this review focuses on type 17 immunity interconnecting multiple organs in autoimmune conditions, with a particular emphasis on the pathogenesis of autoimmune arthritis and neuroinflammation driven by T cells primed within the gut microenvironment.