Yin and yang of interleukin-17 in host immunity to infection.

The interleukin-17 (IL-17) family cytokines, such as IL-17A and IL-17F, play important protective roles in host immune response to a variety of infections such as bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and viral. The IL-17R signaling and downstream pathways mediate induction of proinflammatory molecules which participate in control of these pathogens. However, the production of IL-17 can also mediate pathology and inflammation associated with infections. In this review, we will discuss the yin-and-yang roles of IL-17 in host immunity to pathogens.