Access

Research Highlights

Nature Reviews Immunology 9, 460–461 (1 July 2009) | doi:10.1038/nri2601

T cell differentiation: Inhibiting TH17 cells

Elaine Bell

In addition to the T helper 1 (TH1) and TH2 cell subsets, naive T cells can differentiate into regulatory T cells or pro-inflammatory TH17 cells, which are characterized by the production of interleukin-17 (IL-17) and are known to have a role in the induction of autoimmune diseases. Now, a study published in Science shows that the small molecule halofuginone is a specific inhibitor of TH17 cell differentiation and acts by activating the amino acid starvation response (AAR).