title: Expression of Th-17 and RORγt mRNA in Behçet's Disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate plasma IL-17 level and the expression of Th17 cell transcription factor RORγt in the pathogenesis of Behçet's Disease (BD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were collected from 73 patients with BD (45 patients were in active stage), 20 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 12 multiple sclerosis patients (MS). Twelve patients with BD were investigated both in their active and remission stages. Samples were processed to detect IL-17A level in plasma by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Related gene expression was assessed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Function of Th17 cells in active BD patients with erythema nodosum (EN)-like eruption was studied in relation to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We demonstrated the presence of Th17 cells and RORγt among the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The percentage of circulating Th17 cells and the ability to produce interleukin-17A (IL-17A) were increased in samples derived from patients with active BD, MS and SLE patients. We observed that IL-17A from patients with active BD could induce adhesion molecule messenger RNA expression in HUVECs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RORγt determined Th17 cell might be involved with increased IL-17A in BD. Our results indicate that IL-17 contributes to the active proinflammatory pattern that is characteristic of inflammatory diseases and patients with active BD.
authors: Tunis El Manar University, Medicine Faculty of Tunis, Tunisia. kamel.hamzaoui@gmail.com
authors: Kamel
authors: K
authors: Hamzaoui
authors: Eya
authors: E
authors: Bouali
authors: Imed
authors: I
authors: Ghorbel
authors: Monia
authors: M
authors: Khanfir
authors: Habib
authors: H
authors: Houman
authors: Agnes
authors: A
authors: Hamzaoui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D020381:Interleukin-17; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3; D012333:RNA, Messenger