Pseudomonas aeruginosa induces the generation of pathogenic IFNγ(+)Th17 cells that promote lung damage and chronic inflammation in cystic fibrosis.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa drives the expansion of pathogenic IFNγ(+)Th17 cells, causing lung damage in cystic fibrosis with a 2- to 3-fold increase in these subsets.

• Why it matters: Understanding how P. aeruginosa influences immune responses in CF is crucial because these pathogenic Th17 cells contribute to persistent inflammation and tissue damage, yet their origins and mechanisms remain unclear.
• What they did: The study analyzed lung samples from CF patients, identifying two pathogenic Th17 subsets derived from conventional Th17 precursors, using transcriptomic and T cell receptor profiling, and demonstrated that P. aeruginosa induces a cytokine environment favoring IFNγ(+) Th17 differentiation.
• The result: Findings reveal that P. aeruginosa reprograms immune cells to sustain inflammation, highlighting potential targets for therapies aimed at disrupting this immunopathological loop and improving CF lung health.