IL‐23 drives differentiation of peripheral γδ17 T cells from adult bone marrow‐derived precursors

Pro‐inflammatory interleukin (IL)‐17‐producing γδ (γδ17) T cells are thought to develop exclusively in the thymus during fetal/perinatal life, as adult bone marrow precursors fail to generate γδ17 T cells under homeostatic conditions. Here, we employ a model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in which hematopoiesis is reset by bone marrow transplantation and demonstrate unequivocally that Vγ4 + γδ17 T cells can develop de novo in draining lymph nodes in response to innate stimuli. In vitro, γδ T cells from IL‐17 fate‐mapping reporter mice that had never activated the Il17 locus acquire IL‐17 expression upon stimulation with IL‐1β and IL‐23. Furthermore, IL‐23R (but not IL‐1R1) deficiency severely compromises the induction of γδ17 T cells in EAE, demonstrating the key role of IL‐23 in the process. Finally, we show, in a composite model involving transfers of both adult bone marrow and neonatal thymocytes, that induced γδ17 T cells make up a substantial fraction of the total IL‐17‐producing Vγ4 + T‐cell pool upon inflammation, which attests the relevance of this novel pathway of peripheral γδ17 T‐cell differentiation. Synopsis γδ17 T cells are thought to develop exclusively in the fetal/perinatal thymus. This study shows that differentiation of γδ17 T cells is also driven by IL‐23 in inflamed lymph nodes in a mouse model of MS, independent of specific antigens. Vγ4 + γδ17 T cells differentiate de novo in draining lymph nodes in a mouse model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). IL‐23/IL‐23R signals drive the peripheral differentiation of γδ17 T cells. Peripherally induced γδ17 T cells comprise a large fraction of γδ17 T cells in EAE. Graphical Abstract γδ17 T cells are thought to develop exclusively in the fetal/perinatal thymus. This study shows that differentiation of γδ17 T cells is also driven by IL‐23 in inflamed lymph nodes in a mouse model of MS, independent of specific antigens.