Description: Interleukin-17A (IL-17A, also known as CTLA-8 and IL-17) is a member of the IL-17 family of proinflammatory cytokines. It is most similar to IL-17F, another member of the family with which it shares 50% sequence homology. Both cytokines exist as homodimers and individual subunits from each protein can also associate into a heterodimer known as IL-17AF.
Expression of IL-17A is most often associated with the Th17 subset of CD4+ T cells, but has also been observed in CD8+ T cells, γδ T cells, and neutrophils. IL-17A is important as a neutrophil activator, and it induces inflammatory cytokine production in epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts through NF-κB signaling. IL-17A and Th17 cells have been implicated in various autoimmune disorders.
