Irma Joosten

TL;DR: Human regulatory T cells can differentiate into IL-17-producing cells, when stimulated by allogeneic antigen-presenting cells, especially monocytes, in the presence of rhIL-2/rhIL-15, and data suggest that epigenetic modification underlies the phenomenon of Treg plasticity here described.

TL;DR: LCE expression can be induced in normal epidermis by skin barrier disruption and is strongly expressed in psoriatic lesions, suggesting that compromised skin barrier function has a role in psoriasis susceptibility.

TL;DR: It is shown that Tregs of patients with severe psoriasis, as compared with those of healthy controls, have an enhanced propensity to differentiate into IL-17A-producing cells on ex vivo stimulation, linked to unexpectedly high RORγt levels and enhanced loss of Foxp3.

TL;DR: A strong impact of non-genetic host factors (e.g., age and gender) on cytokine production and circulating mediators is shown and annual seasonality is found to be an important environmental factor influencing cytokineproduction.

TL;DR: It is shown that cytokine secretion by resting human NK cells is induced by soluble, but not solid-phase, antibodies to the killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) 2DL4, a receptor for human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G, which implies that NK cells may provide useful functions at sites of HLA-G expression, such as promotion of vascularization in maternal decidua during early pregnancy.