Increased T helper type 17 response to pathogen stimulation in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis
Janosch Katt, Dorothee Schwinge, Tanja Schoknecht, Alexander Quaas, Ingo Sobottka, Eike Burandt, Christoph Becker, Markus F. Neurath, Ansgar W. Lohse, Johannes Herkel, Christoph Schramm – 8 April 2013 – T helper (Th)17 cells are important for host defense against bacteria and fungi, but are also involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. In primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), bile fluid is frequently colonized with pathogens and its strong association with inflammatory bowel disease suggests the contribution of pathogen responses to disease pathogenesis.