Illustration of a healthy and unhealthy gut, highlighting the role of immune cells in maintaining gut barrier integrity.

Gut Check: How Th17 and Th22 Cells Protect Your Intestinal Health

Soraya Malik in Health & Wellness September 2025 • 4 min read.

"Uncover the crucial role of Th17 and Th22 cells in maintaining gut health and how their depletion can lead to serious health consequences."

The health of our gut is paramount to our overall well-being, influencing everything from our immune system to our mental health. Within this complex ecosystem, specialized immune cells called Th17 and Th22 cells play a critical role in maintaining balance and protecting us from harm. But what exactly do these cells do, and what happens when they disappear?

Progressive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infections are known to disrupt the gut's delicate balance, leading to a massive loss of CD4 T cells and structural damage. This disruption can increase microbial translocation, where bacteria leak from the gut into the bloodstream, triggering systemic inflammation and contributing to disease progression.

A recent study has shed light on the crucial role of Th17 and Th22 cells in maintaining gut health and the consequences of their depletion during SIV infection. The research, which focused on rhesus macaques, reveals how these cells work together to protect the gut and what happens when their numbers decline.

The Dynamic Duo: How Th17 and Th22 Cells Work Together

Illustration of a healthy and unhealthy gut, highlighting the role of immune cells in maintaining gut barrier integrity.

Th17 and Th22 cells are types of immune cells that produce important signaling molecules called cytokines. These cytokines, such as IL-17 and IL-22, help regulate the immune response, fight off infections, and maintain the integrity of the gut lining. These cells are mostly in mucosal tissues, where HIV and SIV replicate.

Researchers have uncovered that Th17 and Th22 cells share several key features, indicating they work together to maintain gut health. In intestinal tissues, both cell types:

Highly produce TNF-α and IL-2, cytokines that help regulate the immune response.
Express CCR5, a protein that can act as a doorway for HIV and SIV to enter cells.
Show limited cytotoxic functions, meaning they don't directly kill infected cells.

Despite their similarities, Th17 and Th22 cells also have distinct roles and distributions within the body. Th22 cells are dramatically depleted during chronic HIV infection, accompanied by compromised epithelial integrity and increased microbial translocation. This suggests they respond differently to different microenvironments or diseases such as infection, autoimmune disease, or allergy. These cells are also dramatically depleted during chronic HIV infection, accompanied by compromised epithelial integrity and increased microbial translocation

Protecting Your Gut: What You Can Do

While the research on Th17 and Th22 cells is ongoing, understanding their importance highlights the need to protect our gut health. This can be achieved through a variety of lifestyle choices, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, and stress management. If you have concerns about your gut health, consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice and support.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.4172/2155-6113.1000302, Alternate LINK

Title: Th17 Cells Coordinate With Th22 Cells In Maintaining Homeostasis Of Intestinal Tissues And Both Are Depleted In Siv-Infected Macaques

Subject: Virology

Journal: Journal of AIDS & Clinical Research

Publisher: OMICS Publishing Group

Authors: Huanbin Xu

Published: 2014-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What roles do Th17 and Th22 cells play in maintaining intestinal health?

Th17 and Th22 cells are types of immune cells that produce cytokines such as IL-17 and IL-22. These cytokines are crucial for regulating the immune response in the gut, fighting off infections, and maintaining the integrity of the gut lining. They work together to protect the gut and are primarily located in mucosal tissues, where HIV and SIV replicate. When these cells are depleted, the gut's balance is disrupted, leading to potential health consequences. Research also indicates the cells highly produce TNF-α and IL-2, cytokines that help regulate the immune response. However, the article does not cover other types of immune cells present in the gut or other cells involved in immune response.

How do HIV and SIV infections affect Th17 and Th22 cells, and what are the potential consequences?

Progressive HIV and SIV infections disrupt the gut's balance, leading to a loss of CD4 T cells and structural damage, ultimately affecting Th17 and Th22 cells. This disruption can increase microbial translocation, where bacteria leak from the gut into the bloodstream, triggering systemic inflammation and potentially accelerating disease progression. Th22 cells, in particular, are dramatically depleted during chronic HIV infection, which compromises epithelial integrity and increases microbial translocation. However, the specific mechanisms by which HIV and SIV target and deplete these cells are not described. The specific mechanisms of CD4+ T cell depletion in the gut during HIV and SIV infections is a large field of study. HIV's entry in these cells, the implications and the consequences can be further studied.

What are the similarities and differences between Th17 and Th22 cells in the context of gut health?

Th17 and Th22 cells share key features that indicate they work together. Both cell types produce TNF-α and IL-2, cytokines that help regulate the immune response, and express CCR5, a protein that can act as a doorway for HIV and SIV to enter cells. Also, both show limited cytotoxic functions. Despite these similarities, Th17 and Th22 cells also have distinct roles and distributions within the body. Th22 cells are dramatically depleted during chronic HIV infection, accompanied by compromised epithelial integrity and increased microbial translocation, indicating they respond differently to various microenvironments or diseases. However, the article doesn't detail the exact distribution differences within the body or the specific functions beyond cytokine production.

What practical steps can I take to protect my gut health, considering the importance of Th17 and Th22 cells?

Protecting your gut health involves several lifestyle choices, including maintaining a balanced diet, engaging in regular exercise, and managing stress. Since Th17 and Th22 cells are critical for maintaining gut health, supporting overall immune function is essential. If you have concerns about your gut health, consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice and support. Although not specified, the article implies that a healthy lifestyle may help maintain the balance and function of these cells. Further strategies to promote a healthy microbiome, the community of microorganisms in the gut, are not mentioned.

Since Th17 and Th22 cells express CCR5, potentially acting as gateways for HIV and SIV, does that mean they might be directly infected, and what would the implications be for immune response and gut health?

The fact that Th17 and Th22 cells express CCR5, a protein that can act as a doorway for HIV and SIV, suggests they could be directly infected by these viruses. If these immune cells are indeed infected, it could compromise their ability to produce essential cytokines like IL-17 and IL-22, disrupting immune regulation and gut lining integrity. This could lead to increased microbial translocation and systemic inflammation, exacerbating disease progression. However, the article doesn't explicitly confirm whether these cells are directly infected or the specific mechanisms of how CCR5-mediated entry impacts their function and survival. Also, the long-term consequences for the broader immune response and gut health would need further investigation to fully understand the implications.