Th17 is involved in the pathogenesis of Beçhet’s disease (114.15)

Abstract

Abstract Behçet’s disease (BD) is an autoinflammatory disease with a unique distribution characterized by uveitis, and mucosal and skin lesions. To examine a role of Th17 response in the pathogenic process of BD, peripheral blood samples from 20 patients with BD and 13 controls were used to evaluate phenotypic and functional properties relevant to the Th17 response. Expression levels of RORC mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells by RT-PCR and proportion of CD4+ cells expressing intracellular IL-17 by flow cytometry were increased in BD patients than in controls (P < 0.05 in both comparisons). Expression of chemokine receptor CCR6 was detected in nearly all IL-17-expressing cells. The proportion of CD4+CCR6+ was higher in BD patients in remission compared those with active disease (P < 0.05), suggesting that these cells are migrated to the lesions at active disease phase. In addition, CD4+ T cells from BD patients had an enhanced migration capacity induced by CCL20, than did those from controls. Finally, plasma CCL20 level was higher in BD patients than in controls (P < 0.05). These results together suggest that Th17 cells are involved in the pathogenesis of BD by migrating into skin and mucosa through the CCL20-CCR6 axis.