IL17A and rheumatoid arthritis: There is increasing evidence that Th17 cells and the cytokines they release such as interleukin-17 (IL-17) are important regulators of innate and adaptive immune responses in many Th1- and/or Th2-mediated autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and allergic asthma [18].