title: Hyperproduction of IL-23 and IL-17 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: implications for Th17-mediated inflammation in auto-immunity.
abstract: IL-23-dependent IL-17-producing T helper (Th) lymphocytes are associated with autoimmunity. We investigated the immunopathological mechanisms for activation of Th17 cells of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Concentration of cytokines/chemokine in plasma and culture supernatant from SLE patients and healthy controls were measured by ELISA or flow cytometry. Plasma IL-12, IL-17, IL-23 and CXCL10 concentrations and the number of Th17 cells were significantly elevated in SLE patients than control subjects (both p<0.05). Elevated IL-12, IL-17 and CXCL10 concentrations correlated positively and significantly with SLEDAI (all p<0.05). Plasma IL-12 and IL-17 showed significant and positive correlation with plasma Th1 chemokine CXCL10 concentration in SLE patients (all p<0.05). Ex vivo inductions of IL-17 by IL-23 or IL-18 from co-stimulated lymphocytes were significantly higher in SLE patients than controls (all p<0.05). The activated IL-23/IL-17 axis is important for the inflammatory immunity in SLE.
authors: Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors: Chun Kwok
authors: CK
authors: Wong
authors: Lydia Choi Wan
authors: LC
authors: Lit
authors: Lai Shan
authors: LS
authors: Tam
authors: Edmund Kwok Ming
authors: EK
authors: Li
authors: Purple Tsz Yan
authors: PT
authors: Wong
authors: Christopher Wai Kei
authors: CW
authors: Lam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015551:Autoimmunity; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D054357:Chemokine CXCL10; D020381:Interleukin-17; D053759:Interleukin-23; D018664:Interleukin-12