IL-17A-induced mesenchymal stem cells have promising therapeutic value for clinical translation.

Interferon (IFN) gamma is the prototypic proinflammatory cytokine used to preactivate the immunomodulatory properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). IFN-gamma, however, converts MSC into a cell therapy that can be immunogenic, detrimental, and hence nonfeasible for clinical application. The article by Bai et al. is an in vivo proof-of-concept study that interleukin-17A (IL-17A) enhances the immunosuppressive, tolerance-promoting, and renoprotective properties of MSC. IL-17A is an alternative cytokine to preactivate MSC. IL-17A enhances the therapeutic efficacy of MSC for renal diseases.