Funktionelle Differenzierung und Plastizität humaner Th17 Zellen

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T helper cells that produce IL-17 (Th17 cells) have recently emerged as a new T cell subset with roles in microbial defense and autoimmune diseases. The cellular and molecular factors driving human Th17 lineage specification have not been fully elucidated and remain highly controversial in light of reported discrepancies with the murine system. Strength and duration of T cell receptor signaling, antigen dose or type of co-stimulation are able to modulate Th1 and Th2 responses but have not been investigated in Th17 cells. MicroRNAs are increasingly recognized as important determinants of cell fate specification and might, like transcription factors, contribute to the functional differentiation of the Th17 cell subset. Therefore the aim will be to decipher the requirements for Th17 cell commitment at a cellular and molecular level. Questions related to Th17 cell lineage maintenance will be addressed by studying the plasticity of this new T helper cell subset. This study will provide insights into the events initiating autoimmunity, potentially yielding novel therapeutic targets for immune vaccination strategies.