%0 Journal Article %J J Immunol %D 2017 %T IFN-γ-Expressing Th17 Cells Are Required for Development of Severe Ocular Surface Autoimmunity %A Chen, Yihe %A Chauhan, Sunil K %A Shao, Chunyi %A Omoto, Masahiro %A Inomata, Takenori %A Dana, Reza %X Th17 cells are critical effectors mediating the ocular surface autoimmunity in dry eye disease (DED). Increased IFN-γ has also been implicated in DED; however, it remains unclear to what extent Th1 cells contribute to DED pathogenesis. In this study, we investigated the cellular source of IFN-γ and assessed its contribution to corneal epitheliopathy in DED mice. We discovered a significant IL-17A(+)IFN-γ(+) (Th17/1) population and determined that these cells are derived from Th17 precursors. Adoptive transfer of Th17/1, but not Th1, cells confers the disease to naive recipients as effectively as do Th17 cells alone. DED-induced IL-12 and IL-23 are required for in vivo transition of pathogenic Th17 cells to IFN-γ producers. Furthermore, using IFN-γ-deficient Th17 cells, we demonstrate the disease-amplifying role of Th17-derived IFN-γ in DED pathogenesis. These results clearly demonstrate that Th17 cells mediate ocular surface autoimmunity through both IL-17A and IFN-γ. %B J Immunol %V 199 %P 1163-1169 %8 2017 Aug 01 %G eng %N 3 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28637904?dopt=Abstract %R 10.4049/jimmunol.1602144