IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-Major Symposium F: 20 Years of Th17 Cells: Discovery and Clinical Impact

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Mandy McGeekie presented unpublished work on how Th17 cells, especially IL-17 signaling, shape lymph node structure and adaptive immunity through fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs). She argued that Th17 cells are not only pathogenic but also protective, depending on context.<br /><br />Her lab found that IL-17 acting on FRCs drives metabolic reprogramming, survival, and proliferation of these stromal cells during immune activation. This helps rebuild and remodel the lymph node network after inflammation. When IL-17 signaling or the downstream regulator IKBZ (NFKBIZ) is removed in FRCs, lymph nodes fail to expand properly, FRC networks become damaged, angiogenesis is reduced, and antibody responses are impaired. These defects also affect disease outcomes in models of gut infection, colitis, and EAE.<br /><br />A key insight was that IL-17 appears to induce localized hypoxia in the lymph node by stimulating metabolically active FRCs, which then promotes angiogenesis and tissue remodeling. McGeekie proposed that IKBZ is a central inflammation sensor in FRCs, linking early immune signals to lymph node shutdown, later rebuilding, and stronger germinal center responses.<br /><br />She suggested these findings may matter for vaccine design, autoimmunity, and chronic inflammatory diseases where tissue remodeling and tertiary lymphoid structures play major roles.

Meta Tag

Date April 18, 2026 8:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Room Ballroom

Session Major Symposium F: 20 Years of Th17 Cells: Discovery and Clinical Impact

Speaker Mandy McGeachy

Track Lymphocyte Differentiation and Peripheral Maintenance (LYM)

Year 2026

Keywords

Th17 cells

IL-17 signaling

fibroblastic reticular cells

lymph node remodeling

IKBZ

angiogenesis

adaptive immunity

April 18, 2026 8:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Ballroom

Major Symposium F: 20 Years of Th17 Cells: Discovery and Clinical Impact

Mandy McGeachy

Lymphocyte Differentiation and Peripheral Maintenance (LYM)

2026