Th17 cell differentiation Gene Set

Dataset KEGG Pathways 2026
Category structural or functional annotations
Type pathway
Description Interleukin (IL)-17-producing helper T (Th17) cells serve as a subset of CD4+ T cells involved in epithelial cell- and neutrophil mediated immune responses against extracellular microbes and in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. In vivo, Th17 differentiation requires antigen presentation and co-stimulation, and activation of antigen presenting-cells (APCs) to produce TGF-beta, IL-6, IL-1, IL-23 and IL-21. This initial activation results in the activation and up-regulation of STAT3, ROR(gamma)t and other transcriptional factors in CD4+ T cells, which bind to the promoter regions of the IL-17, IL-21 and IL-22 genes and induce IL-17, IL-21 and IL-22. In contrast, the differentiation of Th17 cells and their IL-17 expression are negatively regulated by IL-2, Th2 cytokine IL-4, IL-27 and Th1 cytokine IFN-gamma through STAT5, STAT6 and STAT1 activation, respectively. Retinoid acid and the combination of IL-2 and TGF-beta upregulate Foxp3, which also downregulates cytokines like IL-17 and IL-21. The inhibition of Th17 differentiation may serve as a protective strategy to 'fine-tune' the expression IL-17 so it does not cause excessive inflammation. Thus, balanced differentiation of Th cells is crucial for immunity and host protection. (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, hsa04659)
External Link https://www.kegg.jp/entry/hsa04659
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Genes

106 proteins participating in the Th17 cell differentiation pathway from the KEGG Pathways 2026 dataset.

Symbol Name
AHR aryl hydrocarbon receptor
CD247 CD247 molecule
CD3D CD3d molecule, delta (CD3-TCR complex)
CD3E CD3e molecule, epsilon (CD3-TCR complex)
CD4 CD4 molecule
CHUK conserved helix-loop-helix ubiquitous kinase
EBI3 Epstein-Barr virus induced 3
FOS FBJ murine osteosarcoma viral oncogene homolog
FOXP3 forkhead box P3
GATA3 GATA binding protein 3
HIF1A hypoxia inducible factor 1, alpha subunit (basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor)
HLA-DMA major histocompatibility complex, class II, DM alpha
HLA-DMB major histocompatibility complex, class II, DM beta
HLA-DOA major histocompatibility complex, class II, DO alpha
HLA-DOB major histocompatibility complex, class II, DO beta
HLA-DPA1 major histocompatibility complex, class II, DP alpha 1
HLA-DQA1 major histocompatibility complex, class II, DQ alpha 1
HLA-DQA2 major histocompatibility complex, class II, DQ alpha 2
HLA-DQB2 major histocompatibility complex, class II, DQ beta 2
HLA-DRA major histocompatibility complex, class II, DR alpha
HLA-DRB1 major histocompatibility complex, class II, DR beta 1
HLA-DRB3 major histocompatibility complex, class II, DR beta 3
HLA-DRB4 major histocompatibility complex, class II, DR beta 4
HLA-DRB5 major histocompatibility complex, class II, DR beta 5
HSP90AA1 heat shock protein 90kDa alpha (cytosolic), class A member 1
HSP90AB1 heat shock protein 90kDa alpha (cytosolic), class B member 1
IFNG interferon, gamma
IFNGR1 interferon gamma receptor 1
IFNGR2 interferon gamma receptor 2 (interferon gamma transducer 1)
IKBKB inhibitor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells, kinase beta
IKBKG inhibitor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells, kinase gamma
IL12RB1 interleukin 12 receptor, beta 1
IL17F interleukin 17F
IL1B interleukin 1, beta
IL1R1 interleukin 1 receptor, type I
IL1RAP interleukin 1 receptor accessory protein
IL2 interleukin 2
IL21 interleukin 21
IL21R interleukin 21 receptor
IL22 interleukin 22
IL23A interleukin 23, alpha subunit p19
IL23R interleukin 23 receptor
IL27 interleukin 27
IL27RA interleukin 27 receptor, alpha
IL2RA interleukin 2 receptor, alpha
IL2RB interleukin 2 receptor, beta
IL2RG interleukin 2 receptor, gamma
IL4 interleukin 4
IL4R interleukin 4 receptor
IL6 interleukin 6
IL6R interleukin 6 receptor
IL6ST interleukin 6 signal transducer
IRF4 interferon regulatory factor 4
JAK1 Janus kinase 1
JAK2 Janus kinase 2
JAK3 Janus kinase 3
JUN jun proto-oncogene
LCK LCK proto-oncogene, Src family tyrosine kinase
MAPK1 mitogen-activated protein kinase 1
MAPK10 mitogen-activated protein kinase 10
MAPK11 mitogen-activated protein kinase 11
MAPK12 mitogen-activated protein kinase 12
MAPK13 mitogen-activated protein kinase 13
MAPK14 mitogen-activated protein kinase 14
MAPK3 mitogen-activated protein kinase 3
MAPK8 mitogen-activated protein kinase 8
MAPK9 mitogen-activated protein kinase 9
MTOR mechanistic target of rapamycin (serine/threonine kinase)
NFATC1 nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic, calcineurin-dependent 1
NFATC2 nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic, calcineurin-dependent 2
NFATC3 nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic, calcineurin-dependent 3
NFKB1 nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells 1
NFKBIA nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, alpha
NFKBIB nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, beta
NFKBIE nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, epsilon
PLCG1 phospholipase C, gamma 1
PPP3CA protein phosphatase 3, catalytic subunit, alpha isozyme
PPP3CB protein phosphatase 3, catalytic subunit, beta isozyme
PPP3CC protein phosphatase 3, catalytic subunit, gamma isozyme
PPP3R1 protein phosphatase 3, regulatory subunit B, alpha
PPP3R2 protein phosphatase 3, regulatory subunit B, beta
PRKCQ protein kinase C, theta
RARA retinoic acid receptor, alpha
RELA v-rel avian reticuloendotheliosis viral oncogene homolog A
RORA RAR-related orphan receptor A
RORC RAR-related orphan receptor C
RUNX1 runt-related transcription factor 1
RXRA retinoid X receptor, alpha
RXRB retinoid X receptor, beta
RXRG retinoid X receptor, gamma
SMAD2 SMAD family member 2
SMAD3 SMAD family member 3
SMAD4 SMAD family member 4
SPNS1 spinster homolog 1 (Drosophila)
STAT1 signal transducer and activator of transcription 1, 91kDa
STAT3 signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (acute-phase response factor)
STAT5A signal transducer and activator of transcription 5A
STAT5B signal transducer and activator of transcription 5B
STAT6 signal transducer and activator of transcription 6, interleukin-4 induced
TARP TCR gamma alternate reading frame protein
TBX21 T-box 21
TGFB1 transforming growth factor, beta 1
TGFBR1 transforming growth factor, beta receptor 1
TGFBR2 transforming growth factor, beta receptor II (70/80kDa)
TYK2 tyrosine kinase 2
ZAP70 zeta-chain (TCR) associated protein kinase 70kDa