Figure 1.

Autoimmune diseases initiated with the IL-23/TH17 response secrete high levels of IL17A and IL-17F. IL-17A and F initiates granulocyte infiltration to the site of inflammation as well as orchestrates germinal center formation and B-cell maturation in lymphoid tissues. Endogenously expressed or therapeutically administered IFN-β could exacerbate TH17 diseases by directly stimulating granulocytes to release tissue destructive proteases and cytokines or by elevating BAFF to enhance the production of auto-reactive antibodies and memory B-cells.