Th9 and Th17 cells: the controversial twins in cancer immunity
Chi Yan, Ann Richmond
Chi Yan, Ann Richmond
Published June 2, 2020
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2020;130(7):3409-3411. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI138418.
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Commentary

Th9 and Th17 cells: the controversial twins in cancer immunity

Abstract

Th17 cells (producing IL-17) and Th9 cells (producing IL-9) exhibit functional plasticity, and their role in tumorigenicity is controversial. Th17/IL-17 and Th9/IL-9 exhibit critical, but often opposing, roles in tumor progression. In this issue of the JCI, Salazar et al. show that while IL-17 and IL-9 induced distinct but complementary molecular pathways, both cytokines also induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in lung cancer cells and promoted metastatic spreading. A key question before us now is whether IL-9 and IL-17 contribute to tumor progression in a sequential and stage-specific manner within the tumor microenvironment.

Authors

Chi Yan, Ann Richmond

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Figure 1

Th9/IL-9 and Th17/IL-17 induce lung cancer cell EMT and thereby promote metastatic spreading.

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Th9/IL-9 and Th17/IL-17 induce lung cancer cell EMT and thereby promote ...
Salazar et al. showed that Th9 and Th17 cells were enriched in human lung tumor tissues compared with nontumor samples (14). The study suggests that the release of the signature cytokines IL-9 and IL-17 by tumor-infiltrating Th9/Th17 lymphocytes alters the gene regulatory profile in lung cancer cells to induce EMT and promote tumor cell migration, vessel entrance, and metastasis.