Pathogen-induced tissue-resident memory T17 (T17) cells amplify autoimmune kidney disease.

Although it is well established that microbial infections predispose to autoimmune diseases, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. After infection, tissue-resident memory T (T) cells persist in peripheral organs and provide immune protection against reinfection. However, whether T cells participate in responses unrelated to the primary infection, such as autoimmune inflammation, is unknown. By using high-dimensional single-cell analysis, we identified CD4 T cells with a T17 signature (termed T17 cells) in kidneys of patients with ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis. Experimental models demonstrated that renal T17 cells were induced by pathogens infecting the kidney, such as , , and uropathogenic , and persisted after the clearance of infections. Upon induction of experimental glomerulonephritis, these kidney T17 cells rapidly responded to local proinflammatory cytokines by producing IL-17A and thereby exacerbate renal pathology. Thus, our data show that pathogen-induced T17 cells have a previously unrecognized function in aggravating autoimmune disease.

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PMID: 32769171