Serum Levels Of IL-17F Research Articles

Association between the Proinflammatory Cytokine IL-17F and Helicobacter Pylori Infection in a Sample of Iraqi Patients

Background: Infection of the gastric mucosa with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is characterized by the induction of a number of proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-8, IL-6, and TNF-α, involved in Hp-related gastric inflammation. The functions of members of the IL-17 cytokine family, other than IL-17A, in Hp infection remain understudied. The aim of our study was to assess the association between the proinflammatory cytokine IL-17F and Hp infection in a sample of Iraqi patients. Methods and Results: This study included 50 Iraqi patients (18 males and 32 females; a mean age of 36±1.74 years) infected with Hp. The healthy control group consisted of 16 subjects (3 males and 13 females), with a mean age of 31±2.44 years. For the qualitative detection of antibodies (IgG, IgM, and IgA) against Hp in the serum, we used the OnSite H. pylori Ab Combo Rapid Test (CTK Biotech). ELISA was used to detect levels of human IL-17F in serum using ABTS ELISA Development Kit (Pepro Tech, USA). The serum level of IL-17F in patients with Hp infection was significantly higher than in the control group (238.9±7.64 pg/mL vs. 114.00±3.66 pg/mL, P=0.0001). However, the serum level of IL-17F in Hp patients was not significantly different between men and women (237±12.12 pg/mL and 239±9.94 pg/mL, respectively, P=0.9015). In addition, no significant difference was found between age subgroups: 240±13.18 pg/mL, 231±10.17 pg/mL, and 252±18.35 pg/mL in age subgroups of <30 years, 30-45 years, and >45 years, respectively, (P>0.05). Conclusion: Patients infected with Hp were characterized by higher serum levels of IL-17F than non-Hp subjects. IL-17F plays an important role in the inflammatory response to Hp infection in a sample of Iraqi patients.

Interleukin (IL)-17F and IL-17E are related to fibrosis and vasculopathy in systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease that causes fibrosis and vasculopathy of the skin and internal organs against a background of autoimmune abnormalities. In recent years, the importance of the interleukin (IL)-17 family for inflammatory diseases has received much attention, but autoimmune diseases have not yet been fully explored. As for SSc, there is also no unified perspective on the involvement of the IL-17 family in its development, and few studies have been conducted linking IL-17F and IL-17E particularly to the disease severity. In the present study, we examined the correlation between serum IL-17F and IL-17E levels and disease severity in SSc patients. Moreover, the expression of the receptors for these cytokines, IL-17RB and IL-17RC, in skin tissues obtained by skin biopsy was examined by immunohistochemistry. Both cytokines were significantly elevated in the sera of patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc patients compared with healthy controls. Serum IL-17F levels correlated with modified Rodnan total skin thickness score, a semiquantitative measure of skin sclerosis, percent predicted forced vital capacity, percent predicted carbon monoxide lung diffusion capacity and serum levels of Krebs von den Lungen-6 and surfactant protein-D, serological markers of interstitial lung disease. Serum IL-17E levels were significantly correlated with percent predicted forced vital capacity and serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 levels. Serum levels of IL-17F and IL-17E also correlated with the prevalence of digital ulcers, and serum IL-17F levels were associated with elevated right ventricle systolic pressure values. In addition, IL-17RC and IL-17RB expression was increased in the skin tissues of diffuse cutaneous SSc patients. These results suggested that IL-17F and IL-17E could be involved in fibrosis and vasculopathy in SSc through their respective receptors in the affected organ tissues.

Elevated circulating levels of IL-21 and IL-22 define a cytokine signature profile in type 2 autoimmune hepatitis patients

Background and aims. Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the liver in which the immunological mechanisms involved in tissue destruction and/or repair are still unclear. Different pro-inflammatory cytokines have been shown to play a determinant role in AIH pathogenesis. Here, we aim to compare the circulating levels of pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-α, IL-17A/F, IL-21, IL-22, IL-23, and IL-10 in patients with type 2 AIH compared to patients with type 1 AIH and healthy controls (HC). Fourty-six Mexican patients with AIH were recruited in our study. Patients were classified as type 1 or 2 AIH based on immune serological markers. Fourty-four serum samples from healthy individuals were included as controls. Serum cytokine levels were determined by ELISA technique.Results. Compared to healthy controls, serum levels of IL-17F, IL-21, IL-23, IL-10, IL-6, and TNF-α, but not IL-17A and IL-22, were significantly increased in AIH patients. When patients were grouped by aminotransferase activity, a biomarker of active disease, a positive correlation between serum IL-17F and alanine transaminase (rs: 0.4739; P = 0.0009) and aspartate transaminase (rs: 0.4984; P = 0.0004) levels was found. A cytokine signature profile associated with type 2 AIH was characterized by high serum IL-21 (type 1 AIH: 0.66 pg/mL; type 2 AIH: 331.1 pg/mL; P = 0.0042) and IL-22 (type 1 AIH: 0.1 pg/mL; type 2 AIH: 55.26 pg/mL; P = 0.0028) levels.Conclusions. We show for the first time, differential regulation of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines associated with disease progression and AIH type in Mexican patients.