title: Interleukin-17A and interleukin-17F mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a CD4+ T cell-mediated autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system (CNS). It was previously believed that Th1 cells were pathogenic T cells in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). However, the functional role of Th1 cells in EAE has been reconsidered upon the discovery of IL-17-producing T cells which are considered as dominant effectors for inducing autoimmune tissue inflammation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to assess the role of IL-17A and IL-17F in MS pathogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated mRNA expression of IL-17A and IL-17F in thirty-five Iranian patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and twenty-five healthy controls by Quantitative Real Time PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of this study showed a twenty-fold increase in the expression of IL-17A mRNA in MS patients compared to the control group (p < 0.0001). IL-17F mRNA expression in MS patients was thirty three-times greater than the control group (p = 0.0008). IL-17A mRNA expression in the periphery was positively correlated with the expression of IL-17F transcripts in MS patients and controls (p < 0.01and p < 0.05, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate the critical role of Th17- mediated cytokines in the development of MS which was classically considered as a Th1-mediated disorder. The results of this study showed, for the first time, the importance of IL-17F in MS immunopathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. zbabaloo@tbzmed.ac.ir
authors.forename: Zohreh
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Babaloo
authors.forename: Farhad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Babaie
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farhoodi
authors.forename: Mohamad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Aliparasti
authors.forename: Behzad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baradaran
authors.forename: Shohreh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Almasi
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoseini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C508717:IL17A protein, human; C440021:IL17F protein, human; D020381:Interleukin-17; D012333:RNA, Messenger