Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2026, Vol. 21 ›› Issue (5): 1809-1833.doi: 10.4103/NRR.NRR-D-25-00026

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Interleukin-17 family in health and immune diseases: From origin to clinical implications

Guozhen Deng1, #, Mengdi Guo1, #, Jiahui Fan1, #, Weiyan Wang1 , Mei-Ling Jiang2, *, Cun-Jin Zhang1, *   

  1. 1 Department of Neurology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China;  2 Department of Science and Technology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
  • Online:2026-05-15 Published:2025-08-20
  • Contact: Mei-Ling Jiang, MS, jiangmeiling1215@163.com; Cun-Jin Zhang, PhD, MD, zhangcunjin516@163.com.
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundational of China (Key Program), No. U24A20692 (to CJZ); the National Natural Science Foundational of China, Nos. 82101414 (to MLJ), 82371355 (to CJZ); the National Natural Science Foundational of China for Excellent Young Scholars, No. 82022019 (to CJZ); Sichuan Special Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, No. 24NSFJQ0052 (to CJZ); The Innovation and Entrepreneurial Team of Sichuan Tianfu Emei Program, No. CZ2024018 (to CJZ); Funding for Distinguished Young Scholars of Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, No. 30420230005 (to CJZ); and Funding for Distinguished Young Scholars of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No. A1098531023601381 (to CJZ).

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Abstract: The interleukin-17 family is the key group of cytokines and displays a broad spectrum of biological functions, including regulating the inflammatory cascade in various autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, myasthenia gravis, Guillain–Barre syndrome, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, diabetes, inflammatory skin diseases, joint inflammation, and cancer. Although the function of the interleukin-17 family has attracted increasing research attention over many years, the expression, function, and regulation mechanisms of different interleukin-17 members are complicated and still only partially understood. Currently, the interleukin-17A pathway is considered a critical therapeutic target for numerous immune and chronic inflammatory diseases, with several monoclonal antibodies against interleukin17A having been successfully used in clinical practice. Whether other interleukin-17 members have the potential to be targeted in other diseases is still debated. This review first summarizes the recent advancements in understanding the physicochemical properties, physiological functions, cellular origins, and downstream signaling pathways of different members and corresponding receptors of the interleukin-17 family. Subsequently, the function of interleukin-17 in various immune diseases is discussed, and the important role of interleukin-17 in the pathological process of immune diseases is demonstrated from multiple perspectives. Then, the current status of targeted interleukin-17 therapy is summarized, and the effectiveness and safety of targeted interleukin-17 therapy are analyzed. Finally, the clinical application prospects of targeting the interleukin-17 pathway are discussed.

Key words: antibody therapy, autoimmune disease, cellular source, clinical applications, interleukin-17, interleukin-17 receptor, inflammatory diseases, physiological responses, signaling pathway, therapeutic strategy