Targeting the IL-17 Pathway in Inflammatory Disorders

Cong-Qiu Chu, MD, PhD is associate professor of medicine at Oregon Health & Science University and VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon. Dr Chu obtained his MD from Normal Bethune University of Medical Sciences, Changchun, China and PhD from the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of London, London, UK; completed his internal medicine residency at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing and Wayne State University Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan and rheumatology fellowship at University of Washington, Seattle. Dr Chu has a career long interest in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). His seminal observation that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is over-expressed in RA joint tissue helped the development of TNF inhibitors for therapy of RA. His contribution was recognized by European League Against Rheumatism Young Investigator Award in 1991. Dr Chu is one of the investigators who first demonstrated that T helper type 1 (Th1) cells are not the cell types mediating autoimmune inflammatory diseases, which were later uncovered to be mediated by Th17 cells. Dr Chu's current research includes developing novel therapeutic strategies using RNA interference technology for precise targeting Th17 cells for inflammatory diseases and developing optimal management strategies for early RA.

Introduction.- Overview of IL-17 family.-Il-17 in host defense.- Th17 cells: differentiation and regulation.- The role of the IL-17/Th17 pathway in the pathogenesis of autoimmune inflammatory diseases.- Therapeutic applications: strategies and molecules targeting the IL-17/Th17 pathway.- Concluding remarks