Flurry of deal-making surrounds new autoimmunity target

In autoimmune diseases, an excess of T helper 17 (TH17) cells, and the cytokine signaling molecules they produce, is a dominant factor in keeping the immune system in constant overdrive. Clinical approaches to targeting this firehose of immune activation have largely taken one approach: blocking overabundant cytokines. But recent research on a previously underappreciated receptor suggests that there could be a better approach. By modulating the activity of a protein called retinoic acid-related orphan receptor-gamma t (RORγt), scientists have discovered they can prevent the differentiation of TH17 cells from T cell precursors in the thymus.