The Multifaceted Role of Th17 Lymphocytes and Their Associated Cytokines in Cancer

Figure 1

Specific cytokines drive the differentiation of specialized T helper lymphocytes. Naïve CD4⁺ T lymphocytes, upon activation and in the presence of specific cytokines, differentiate into Th1, Th2, Th17, or Treg. The plasticity of Th17 and Treg enables them to transdifferentiate into Th17/Treg subsets. Th17 cells can also acquire a Th1-type phenotype leading to “hybrid” Th17/Th1 cells. The nature and concentration of the cytokines present in the differentiation milieu lead to the activation of distinct signaling cascades and transcription factors which control the developmental program of these specific lineages.