Elevated Th17 cells accompanied by decreased regulatory T cells and cytokine environment in infants with biliary atresia
Y Yang, Y Liu, S Tang, L Yang, J Yang, G Cao… - Pediatric surgery …, 2013 - Springer
Y Yang, Y Liu, S Tang, L Yang, J Yang, G Cao, J Zhang, X Wang, Y Mao
Pediatric surgery international, 2013•SpringerPurpose The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Th17 and T reg cells in biliary
atresia (BA) and to assess the liver cytokine environment in BA patients. Methods The
percentages of Th17 and T reg cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of BA
patients and healthy controls (HC) were evaluated. The serum concentrations of IL-17a and
IL-23 as well as Foxp3, IL-17a, ROR-γt, IL-6, IL-1β and TGF-β1 m-RNA and protein
expressions in liver tissues and the number of Foxp3, IL-17a, ROR-γt, CD4 expressing cells …
atresia (BA) and to assess the liver cytokine environment in BA patients. Methods The
percentages of Th17 and T reg cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of BA
patients and healthy controls (HC) were evaluated. The serum concentrations of IL-17a and
IL-23 as well as Foxp3, IL-17a, ROR-γt, IL-6, IL-1β and TGF-β1 m-RNA and protein
expressions in liver tissues and the number of Foxp3, IL-17a, ROR-γt, CD4 expressing cells …
Purpose
The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Th17 and Treg cells in biliary atresia (BA) and to assess the liver cytokine environment in BA patients.
Methods
The percentages of Th17 and Treg cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of BA patients and healthy controls (HC) were evaluated. The serum concentrations of IL-17a and IL-23 as well as Foxp3, IL-17a, ROR-γt, IL-6, IL-1β and TGF-β1 m-RNA and protein expressions in liver tissues and the number of Foxp3, IL-17a, ROR-γt, CD4 expressing cells which infiltrated the hepatic tissues were determined.
Results
The Th17/Treg cell ratio (P < 0.001) and blood concentrations of IL-17a and IL-23 (P < 0.05) were increased in the BA as compared to the HC group. Expressions of Foxp3, ROR-γt, IL-17a, IL-1β, IL-6 as well as TGF-β1 mRNA and proteins were significantly increased in BA as compared to HC livers (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). High levels of IL-17a/ROR-γt-positive and moderate levels of Foxp3-positive cells infiltrated damaged BA bile ducts and the ratio of FoxP3+ T to CD4+ T cells was significantly lower in BA than in HC samples (P < 0.01).
Conclusion
Cytokine-induced imbalance between Th17 and Treg cells in BA livers may be involved in bile duct damage.
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