The IL17F gene, located on chromosome 6p12.2, is primarily expressed by activated T cells, particularly Th17 cells, as well as other immune cells like γδ T cells and some innate immune cells ^[1]. The gene encodes the interleukin-17F (IL-17F) cytokine, a disulfide-linked homodimer protein that shares significant sequence homology with IL-17A ^[2]. Functionally, IL-17F is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that binds to the IL-17RA/RC receptor complex, triggering downstream signaling pathways involving Act1 and TRAF6, leading to the induction of various cytokines (like IL-6, IL-8, GM-CSF) and chemokines, which contribute to neutrophil recruitment and inflammation in barrier tissues such as the skin, lungs, and gut ^[3]. Elevated levels or dysregulation of IL-17F have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, including psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease (like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), and potentially Sjögren's syndrome, highlighting its role in chronic inflammatory processes ^[2-4].

The B6-hIL17F mouse is a humanized model constructed by replacing the sequence of the mouse Il17f gene in situ with the corresponding sequence from the human IL17F gene. The B6-hIL17F mice can be used for studies on psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and pathogenesis of inflammatory disorders, as well as for IL17F-targeted drug development.