Targeting the IL17 Pathway for the Prevention of Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is still a major complication of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). The pathophysiology of GVHD is a multistep process initiated by tissue damage and proinflammatory cytokine cascades induced by the pretransplantation conditioning therapy. This eventually results in Th1-driven tissue damage. However, increasing evidence indicates the involvement of IL17-producing T cells in GVHD pathogenesis. Both CD4+ and CD8+ IL17-producing T cells are suspected of initiating the Th1 response and aggravating tissue inflammation, resulting in full-blown GVHD. In this review, we discuss the involvement of IL17-producing T cells in GVHD and the factors involved in their expansion, differentiation, and activation. Different dendritic cell (DC) subsets, such as plasmacytoid DCs and DC NK lectin group receptor 1+ myeloid DCs have the capability to stimulate Th/Tc17 responses through the release of cytokines. Pivotal cytokines include IL1β, IL6, IL23, and TGFβ, which are known to drive differentiation and expansion of IL17-producing T cells, and these cytokines are highly elevated in patients after allo-SCT. Potent activators of these DC subsets are motifs that are released upon tissue damage and microbial exposure during allo-SCT. These motifs aggravate the Th/Tc17 response via the activation of various pathogen recognition receptors, thereby initiating and perpetuating GVHD. A more comprehensive understanding of the factors and DC subsets driving the IL17 pathway will result in developing and testing novel therapeutic approaches for the prevention of GVHD.