title: [Expression and significance of Th17 cells and related cytokines in a murine model of systemic sclerosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the expression and significance of Th17 cells and related cytokines in the peripheral blood, skin and lung in a murine model of systemic sclerosis (SSc).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 2 groups, including a control group and a bleomycin(BLM) -injected-4-week group (SSc group). Pathological changes of the skin and lung were detected. The proportion of CD4(+)IL-17(+)Th17 cells in the peripheral blood, skin and lung of the mice was determined by flow cytometry. The mRNA expressions of RORγt, IL-17A, and IL-6 of the skin and lung were evaluated by real-time PCR. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the levels of IL-17 and IL-6 in the serum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dermal inflammation and the score of PF were significantly increased in the SSc group as compared with the control group (2.60±0.84 vs. 0.40±0.52, 2.80± 1.81 vs.0.60±0.70). Hydroxyproline(HYP) contents of the skin and lung were obviously increased in the SSc group than in the control group [(3.17±1.74)  mg/g vs. (1.45±0.40) mg/g,(0.53±0.14) mg/g vs. (0.38±0.16) mg/g], all P<0.05. The percentage of Th17 cells in the peripheral blood, skin and lung of the  SSc group were significantly increased as compared with the control group [(2.07±0.89)% vs. (1.02±0.32)%,(5.80±2.02)% vs. (1.64±0.58)%,(5.24±2.43)%  vs. (1.92±0.98)%,P <0.01]. Compared with the control group, the mRNA levels of IL-17A, RORγt, IL-6 in the skin and lung of the SSc group were higher.  The levels of IL-17, IL-6 of the SSc group in the serum were significantly increased, all P<0.05. The frequency of Th17 cells, and the levels of IL-17 and IL-6 in the blood had a positive correlation with dermal and pulmonary inflammation, fibrosis and HYP contents of the skin and lung, The frequency of Th17, IL-17 and IL-6 in the skin and lung had, respectively, a positive correlation with dermal and pulmonary inflammation, HYP contents of the skin and lung, all  P<0.01.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Th17 cells were significantly increased in the peripheral blood, skin and lung of a murine model of SSc, and had an intimate  relationship with inflammation and fibrosis of the skin and lung, and involved the pathogenesis of SSc through producing IL-17, IL-6.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Guangxi Medical University First Affiliated Hospital, Nanning 530021, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Xiao-ning
authors.initials: XN
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Cun-dong
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Mi
authors.forename: Jia-quan
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jing-jing
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000276:immunology; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000276:immunology; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17; D015850:Interleukin-6; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3