title: Interleukin-23 promotes natural killer T-cell production of IL-17 during rat liver transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cytokine interleukin-17 (IL-17) is a key proinflammatory mediator promoting allograft cytokine and chemokine production. In addition to Th17 cells, natural killer T (NKT) cells have also been shown to be capable of rapidly producing IL-17 after activation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The levels of IL-17 and IL-23 of liver allografts were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). IL-17-positive cells in CD1d CD4+ cells of grafts were detected using flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High expression of IL-17 and IL-23 was observed in liver allografts. The ratios of NKT cells were dramatically increased in the allograft group compared with that in the control group (P < .01). In vitro, blockage of IL-23 using anti-IL-23 antibody can inhibit increasing expression of IL-17 (P < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NKT cells contribute to production of IL-17 mediated by IL-23 on a rat acute allograft rejection model of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).
authors.affiliation: Department of Organ Transplantation, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
authors.forename: X C
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.forename: J Q
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: H Z
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Qi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17; D053759:Interleukin-23