IL-17C is a mediator of respiratory epithelial innate immune response

The IL-17 family of cytokines consists of at least six members (IL-17 A to F). IL-17 directly activates epithelial cells leading to the expression of inflammatory mediators and antimicrobial factors. Recent studies showed that IL-17C is expressed by epithelial cells. It was the purpose of this study to examine the expression of IL-17 family members in respiratory epithelial cells during bacterial infection. We show that common bacterial pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Haemophilus influenzae and ligands of Toll-like receptors 3 and 5 (flagellin, polyI:C) induced the expression and release of IL-17C i…