Th17 plasticity and its changes associated with inflammatory bowel disease

Figure 1 Concept of 17 secreting helper T plasticity. The Foxp3 expressing Treg subset either develops naturally (nTreg) or is peripherally induced from naïve T cells (iTreg). Th17 generating factors including cytokines, transcription factors, and other molecular cues can induce these cells to differentiate into transitional cells with co-expression of Foxp3 and RORc. Th17 cells may be converted into Th17/1-transitional cells with co-expression of RORc and TBX21. Th17: 17 secreting helper T; Foxp3: Forkhead box p3; RORγt: Related orphan receptor γ thymus in mouse; IL: Interleukin; TGF: Transforming growth factor; IFN: Interferon.