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ReportsReciprocal TH17 and Regulatory T Cell Differentiation Mediated by Retinoic AcidThe cytokine transforming growth factor–ß (TGF-ß) converts naïve T cells into regulatory T (Treg) cells that prevent autoimmunity. However, in the presence of interleukin-6 (IL-6), TGF-ß has also been found to promote the differentiation of naïve T lymphocytes into proinflammatory IL-17 cytokine-producing T helper 17 (TH17) cells, which promote autoimmunity and inflammation. This raises the question of how TGF-ß can generate such distinct outcomes. We identified the vitamin A metabolite retinoic acid as a key regulator of TGF-ß–dependent immune responses, capable of inhibiting the IL-6–driven induction of proinflammatory TH17 cells and promoting anti-inflammatory Treg cell differentiation. These findings indicate that a common metabolite can regulate the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory immunity. La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: hilde{at}liai.org
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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)
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