IFN-γ–Producing T-Helper 17.1 Cells Are Increased in Sarcoidosis and Are More Prevalent than T-Helper Type 1 Cells

Abstract

Combined use of surface markers and functional assays to study CD4(+) T cells in sarcoidosis revealed a marked expansion of Th17.1 cells that only produce IFN-γ. These results suggest that Th17.1 cells could be misclassified as Th1 cells and may be the predominant producer of IFN-γ in pulmonary sarcoidosis, challenging the Th1 paradigm of pathogenesis.