PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Olivier Le Rouzic AU - Muriel Pichavant AU - Emilie Frealle AU - Antoine Guillon AU - Mustapha Si-Tahar AU - Philippe Gosset TI - Th17 cytokines: novel potential therapeutic targets for COPD pathogenesis and exacerbations AID - 10.1183/13993003.02434-2016 DP - 2017 Oct 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - 1602434 VI - 50 IP - 4 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/50/4/1602434.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/50/4/1602434.full SO - Eur Respir J2017 Oct 01; 50 AB - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways caused mainly by cigarette smoke exposure. COPD progression is marked by exacerbations of the disease, often associated with infections. Recent data show the involvement in COPD pathophysiology of interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-22, two cytokines that are important in the control of lung inflammation and infection. During the initiation and progression of the disease, increased IL-17 secretion causes neutrophil recruitment, leading to chronic inflammation, airways obstruction and emphysema. In the established phase of COPD, a defective IL-22 response facilitates pathogen-associated infections and disease exacerbations. Altered production of these cytokines involves a complex network of immune cells and dysfunction of antigen-presenting cells. In this review, we describe current knowledge on the involvement of IL-17 and IL-22 in COPD pathophysiology at steady state and during exacerbations, and discuss implications for COPD management and future therapeutic approaches.Alteration of IL-17 and IL-22 production plays a key role in COPD physiopathology and development of exacerbations http://ow.ly/zKFj30elgdw