Th17 and regulatory T lymphocytes in primary biliary cirrhosis and systemic sclerosis as models of autoimmune fibrotic diseases

Collectively, the reviewed data support the concept that altered homeostasis between effector and regulatory T cell circuits is present in fibrotic autoimmune diseases and that the major factors responsible for such disequilibrium are Th17 cells in the effector arm and CD8 + Treg in the regulatory arm.