Targeting the IL-17 Pathway in Inflammatory Disorders

Cong-Qiu Chu, MD, PhD is associate professor of medicine at Oregon Health & Science University and VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon. Dr Chu obtained his MD from Normal Bethune University of Medical Sciences, Changchun, China and PhD from the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of London, London, UK; completed his internal medicine residency at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing and Wayne State University Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan and rheumatology fellowship at University of Washington, Seattle. Dr Chu has a career long interest in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). His seminal observation that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is over-expressed in RA joint tissue helped the development of TNF inhibitors for therapy of RA. His contribution was recognized by European League Against Rheumatism Young Investigator Award in 1991. Dr Chu is one of the investigators who first demonstrated that T helper type 1 (Th1) cells are not the cell types mediating autoimmune inflammatory diseases, which were later uncovered to be mediated by Th17 cells. Dr Chu's current research includes developing novel therapeutic strategies using RNA interference technology for precise targeting Th17 cells for inflammatory diseases and developing optimal management strategies for early RA.

This book provides an overview of the discovery and structure of IL-17, including its pathogenesis and role in chronic inflammation and autoimmunity. To capture the latest developments and product approvals the book also discusses the therapeutic advances and looks at emerging therapies targeting the IL-17 pathway. IL-17 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that has a key role in inflammation, autoimmunity, and host defense in a number of inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel disease. The discovery of the IL-17-Th17 pathway has seen exciting development in the field of immunology and inflammation research, which has led to a number of recent regulatory approvals.