Plasma IL-17A is increased in new-onset SLE patients and associated with disease activity.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) and Th17 cell in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we studied the plasma IL-17A and the expression of Th17 cell transcription factor RORgammat in Chinese new-onset SLE patients.


METHODS
Sixty SLE patients aged between 18 and 40 years and 56 age-matched healthy volunteers were involved in the study. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure plasma IL-17A level, and rea1-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to measure RORgammat mRNA.


RESULTS
The results showed that both IL-17A level and RORgammat mRNA in SLE patients were higher than that of controls. Correlation analysis indicated that plasma IL-17A level was positively correlated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index, not with RORgammat mRNA.


CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that IL-17A might play a role in the pathogenesis of SLE and associated with disease activity. RORgammat-determined Th17 cell might be involved with increased IL-17A in SLE but not exclusively the unique source.
Chen
Xiao Qi
XQ
Department of Rheumatology, Zhongnan Hospital, Medical College of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. chenxjane@yahoo.com.cn
Yu
Yan Cheng
YC
Deng
Hao Hua
HH
Sun
Jia Zhong
JZ
Dai
Zhe
Z
Wu
Yu Wen
YW
Yang
Miao
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018450:Disease Progression; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D020381:Interleukin-17; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3