Th17/Treg Imbalance in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Clinical and Experimental Evidence

• Published in: Frontiers in immunology Vol. 12; p. 804919
• Main Authors: Lourenço, Juliana Dias, Ito, Juliana Tiyaki, Martins, Milton de Arruda, Tibério, Iolanda de Fátima Lopes Calvo, Lopes, Fernanda Degobbi Tenorio Quirino Dos Santos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 09-12-2021
• Subjects: Animals; COPD; Humans; immune response; Immunology; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - immunology; regulatory T cell (Treg); T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - immunology; Th17 cells (Th17); Th17 Cells - immunology; Th17/Treg imbalance; Th17 cells (Th17); immune response; Th17/Treg imbalance; regulatory T cell (Treg); COPD
• ISSN: 1664-3224; 1664-3224
• DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.804919

The imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory immune responses mediated by Th17 and Treg cells is deeply involved in the development and progression of inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Several clinical and experimental studies have described the Th17/Treg imbalance in COPD progression. Due to its importance, many studies have also evaluated the effect of different treatments targeting Th17/Treg cells. However, discrepant results have been observed among different lung compartments, different COPD stages or local and systemic markers. Thus, the data must be carefully examined. In this context, this review explores and summarizes the recent outcomes of Th17/Treg imbalance in COPD development and progression in clinical, experimental and
studies.