Research Interests
T helper cell differentiation. T helper (TH) cells are the central organizer of adaptive immunity. Upon activation, T helper progenitors differentiate towards different functional subsets. Mis-regulation of T helper cells is involved in immune deficiency, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, and even in cancer. In the past decade or two, numerous findings by many groups, including ours, shed light on the understanding of T helper cells in health and diseases. In addition, phenotype switch of TH cells implicates potential opportunities for targeting these cells in diseases. Our lab continues working on T helper cell differentiation, plasticity and function.
TH17 cell and its cytokines in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. TH17 cell and its cytokines in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. TH17 cells, a recently described T helper subset, secrete IL-17, IL-17F, IL-21, IL-22 and TNF and regulate tissue inflammation. TH17 cells have been shown to play a critical role in many inflammatory diseases. (A) Neuroinflammation. TH17 cells play an important role in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a mouse model of human multiple sclerosis. We are investigating how TH17 cells influence inflammatory infiltrates crossing the brain-blood barrier and how TH17 cells co-operate with other types of cells to cause nerve system damage. (B) Differential function of IL-17 and IL-17F. We and others have demonstrated that IL-17 and IL-17F, the two closest homologs of the IL-17 cytokine family, share pro-inflammatory features but have distinct functions when acting on various tissues. Particularly, we are interested in inflammation in the gut. Understanding the molecular basis whereby the cytokines, IL-17 and IL-17F lead to differential function is one of our current foci.
T helper cells in allergy. TH2 cells play a critical role in allergic asthma. Recently, TH9 cells were found joining in the battle. Our interests are to characterize the regulation of TH9 cell differentiation and the effector cytokine IL-9 signaling in allergic diseases.
Selected Publications
Link to PubMed
Note: *Co-first author; #Co-corresponding author
1. Park H*, Li Z*, Yang XO*, Chang SH, Nurieva R,
Wang YH, Wang Y, Hood L, Zhu Z, Tian Q, and Dong C. A distinct lineage
of CD4 T cells regulates tissue inflammation by producing interleukin
17. Nat. Immunol. 6(11): 1133-1141 (2005). PMID: 16200068
2. Yang XO, Panopoulos AD, Nurieva R, Chang SH, Wang
D, Watowich SS, and Dong C. STAT3 regulates cytokine-mediated
generation of inflammatory helper T cells. J. Biol. Chem. 282(13):
9358-9363 (2007). PMID: 17277312
3. Nurieva R, Yang XO, Martinez G, Zhang Y,
Panopoulos AD, Ma L, Schluns K, Tian Q, Watowich SS, Jetten AM, and
Dong C. Essential autocrine regulation by IL-21 in the generation of
inflammatory T cells. Nature 448(7152): 480-483 (2007). PMID: 17581589
4. Yang XO*, Pappu BP*, Nurieva R*, Akimzhanov A,
Kang HS, Chung Y, Ma L, Shah B, Panopoulos AD, Schluns KS, Watowich SS,
Tian Q, Jetten AM and Dong C. T helper 17 lineage differentiation is
programmed by orphan nuclear receptors ROR alpha and ROR gamma.
Immunity 28(1): 29-39 (2008). PMID: 18164222
5. Yang XO*, Chang SH*, Park H, Nurieva R, Shah B,
Acero L, Wang YH, Schluns KS, Broaddus RR, Zhu Z and Dong C. Regulation
of inflammatory responses by IL-17F. J. Exp. Med. 205(5): 1063-1075
(2008). PMID: 18411338
6. Yang XO*, Nurieva R*, Martinez GJ*, Kang HS, Chung
Y, Pappu BP, Shah B, Chang SH, Schluns KS, Watowich SS, Feng XH, Jetten
AM and Dong C. Molecular antagonism and plasticity of regulatory and
inflammatory T cell programs. Immunity 29(1): 44-56 (2008). PMID:
18585065
7. Nurieva R*, Yang XO*, Chung Y*, and Dong C.
Cutting edge: in vitro generated Th17 cells maintain their cytokine
expression program in normal but not lymphopenic hosts. J. Immunol.
182(5): 2565-2568 (2009). PMID: 19234148
8. Yang XO#, Angkasekwinai P, Zhu J, Peng
J, Liu Z, Nurieva R, Liu X, Chung Y, Chang SH, Sun B#, and
Dong C.# Requirement for the basic helix-loop-helix
transcription factor Dec2 in initial TH2 lineage commitment. Nat.
Immunol. 10(12): 1260-1266 (2009). PMID: 19881507
9. Peng J*, Yang XO*#, Chang SH, Yang J,
and Dong C.# IL-23 signaling enhances Th2 polarization and
regulates allergic airway inflammation. Cell Res. 20(1): 62-71 (2010).
PMID: 19935773
