Cui Huantian, Wang Ning, Li Hanzhou, Bian Yuhong, Wen Weibo, Kong Xiangying, Wang Fudi
First School of Clinical Medicine, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, 650500, China.
College of Integrative Chinese and Western Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China.
Cell Commun Signal. 2024 Feb 6;22(1):99. doi: 10.1186/s12964-024-01505-0.
The changes in T regulatory cell (Treg) and T helper cell (Th) 17 ratios holds paramount importance in ensuring internal homeostasis and disease progression. Recently, novel subsets of Treg and Th17, namely IL-17-producing Treg and IL-10-producing Th17 have been identified. IL-17-producing Treg and IL-10-producing Th17 are widely considered as the intermediates during Treg/Th17 transformation. These "bi-functional" cells exhibit plasticity and have been demonstrated with important roles in multiple physiological functions and disease processes. Yin and Yang represent opposing aspects of phenomena according to the ancient Chinese philosophy "Yin-Yang" theory. Furthermore, Yin can transform into Yang, and vice versa, under specific conditions. This theory has been widely used to describe the contrasting functions of immune cells and molecules. Therefore, immune-activating populations (Th17, M1 macrophage, etc.) and immune overreaction (inflammation, autoimmunity) can be considered Yang, while immunosuppressive populations (Treg, M2 macrophage, etc.) and immunosuppression (tumor, immunodeficiency) can be considered Yin. However, another important connotation of "Yin-Yang" theory, the conversion between Yin and Yang, has been rarely documented in immune studies. The discovery of IL-17-producing Treg and IL-10-producing Th17 enriches the meaning of "Yin-Yang" theory and further promotes the relationship between ancient "Yin-Yang" theory and modern immunology. Besides, illustrating the functions of IL-17-producing Treg and IL-10-producing Th17 and mechanisms governing their differentiation provides valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying the dynamically changing statement of immune statement in health and diseases.
调节性T细胞（Treg）与辅助性T细胞（Th）17的比例变化对于维持体内稳态和疾病进展至关重要。最近，已鉴定出Treg和Th17的新亚群，即产生白细胞介素-17的Treg和产生白细胞介素-10的Th17。产生白细胞介素-17的Treg和产生白细胞介素-10的Th17被广泛认为是Treg/Th17转化过程中的中间产物。这些“双功能”细胞具有可塑性，并已证实在多种生理功能和疾病过程中发挥重要作用。根据中国古代哲学“阴阳”理论，阴阳代表现象的对立方面。此外，在特定条件下，阴可转化为阳，反之亦然。该理论已被广泛用于描述免疫细胞和分子的对比功能。因此，免疫激活群体（Th17、M1巨噬细胞等）和免疫过度反应（炎症、自身免疫）可被视为阳，而免疫抑制群体（Treg、M2巨噬细胞等）和免疫抑制（肿瘤、免疫缺陷）可被视为阴。然而，“阴阳”理论的另一个重要内涵，即阴阳之间的转化，在免疫研究中鲜有记载。产生白细胞介素-17的Treg和产生白细胞介素-10的Th17的发现丰富了“阴阳”理论的内涵，并进一步促进了古代“阴阳”理论与现代免疫学之间的关系。此外，阐明产生白细胞介素-17的Treg和产生白细胞介素-10的Th17的功能及其分化调控机制，为健康和疾病中免疫状态动态变化的潜在机制提供了有价值的见解。
