Oxidative Stress and Treg and Th17 Dysfunction in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Figure 2

Oxidative stress and AHR-mediated Th17 cell differentiation. Increased UV exposure, H₂O₂, and leptin can promote the generation of FICZ, a natural ligand of AHR. AHR usually resides in the cytoplasm in complex with Hsp90. Interaction between AHR and ligands FICZ triggers conformational changes resulting in an exchange of Hsp90 for the nuclear translocation component ARNT and induces target genes expression such as Cyp1a1, triggering Th17 cell expansion and IL-17, IL-21, and IL-22 production. Oxidative stress can also elicit the activation of mTORC1, which then promotes Th17 cell differentiation and related cytokines production.