T helper 17 (Th17) cells and induced regulatory T (iTreg) cells are two
subsets of T helper cells differentiated from naïve cells that play
important roles in autoimmune diseases, immune homeostasis, and tumor
immunity. The differentiation process is achieved by changes in numerous
proteins, including transcription regulators, enzymes, membrane
receptors, and cytokines, which are critical in lineage commitment. To
profile protein expression changes in Th17 and iTreg cells, we polarized
murine naïve CD4+ T (Thp) cells in vitro to Th17 and iTreg cells and
performed quantitative proteomic analysis of these cells. More than
4,000 proteins, covering almost all subcellular compartments, were
detected. Quantitative comparison of the protein expression profiles
resulted in the identification of proteins specifically expressed in the
Th17 and iTreg cells. Importantly, our combined analysis of proteome
and gene expression data revealed protein expression changes that were
not associated with changes at the transcriptional level. The present
study serves as a valuable resource that may prove useful in developing
treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer.