Human interleukin 17-producing cells originate from a CD161+CD4+ T cell precursor

Description

We demonstrate that CD161 is a highly up-regulated gene in human interleukin (IL) 17 T helper cell (Th17) clones and that all IL-17 – producing cells are contained in the CD161 + fraction of CD4 + T cells present in the circulation or in infl amed tissues, although they are not CD1-restricted natural killer T cells. More importantly, we show that all IL-17 – producing cells originate from CD161 + naive CD4 + T cells of umbilical cord blood, as well as of the postnatal thymus, in response to the combined activity of IL-1 beta and IL-23. These fi ndings implicate CD161 as a novel surface marker for human Th17 cells and demonstrate the exclusive origin of these cells from a CD161 + CD4 + T cell progenitor.

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