title: IL-17 expression is correlated with hepatitis B‑related liver diseases and fibrosis.
abstract: IL-17-producing T cells (Th17) have been found to play important roles in several liver diseases, but few studies have evaluated the function of such cells in hepatitis B (HBV)‑related diseases, especially in hepatic fibrosis. In this study, we examined the expression of IL‑17 in patients with different chronic HBV-related diseases, and assessed the association between IL-17 expression and the degree of fibrosis. The method of immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the localization of intrahepatic IL-17. We demonstrated significantly increased expression of IL‑17 in HBV-related chronic liver diseases, especially in liver fibrosis, and that the level of IL-17 is strongly correlated with the degree of fibrosis. Furthermore, we found that intrahepatic IL‑17 was mainly localized in the fibrosis region. Our data reveal important roles of IL-17 and IL-17-producing cells in the progression of HBV related chronic liver diseases, especially in the formation of liver fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue 1277, Wuhan 430022, PR China.
authors.forename: Liyun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shijun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Keshu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17