Th17 T-Cells and environmental pollutants (HIGRADE)

T-helper 17 T-Cells (Th17) play an important role in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Latest research results show that Th17-differentiation can be affected by certain chemicals, which are able to bind the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) on these cells. The AhR is a transcription factor which, dependent on his ligands, controls the expression of numerous enzymes of metabolism and in immune cells the expression of pro-inflammatory molecules. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of environmental pollutants on AhR on the differentiation and activation Th17 cells. We could show that the AhR ligands TCDD and FICZ influenced the production of IL-8 and IL-9 thereby impacting the inflammatory capacity of these cells (Gasch et al, 2014 Abstract and Fulltext).