Pathogenic conversion of forkhead box protein 3-positive T cells into T helper 17 cells: Is this also the case for multiple sclerosis?

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that affects the brain and spinal cord. T helper 17 (Th17) cells have emerged as a key player in the pathogenesis of MS and other autoimmune disorders previously attributed to Th1 cells. New research published in Nature Medicine has shown that CD25lowFoxP3+CD4+ T cells can differentiate into Th17 cells in vivo, and that these cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune arthritis. Considering the role of autoreactive T cells particularly Th17 cells in MS, such exFoxP3 Th17 cells derived from FoxP3+ T cells might also be able to control the initiation and progression of MS.