title: Elevated Th17 cells accompanied by decreased regulatory T cells and cytokine environment in infants with biliary atresia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Th17 and T reg cells in biliary atresia (BA) and to assess the liver cytokine environment in BA patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The percentages of Th17 and T reg cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of BA patients and healthy controls (HC) were evaluated. The serum concentrations of IL-17a and IL-23 as well as Foxp3, IL-17a, ROR-γt, IL-6, IL-1β and TGF-β1 m-RNA and protein expressions in liver tissues and the number of Foxp3, IL-17a, ROR-γt, CD4 expressing cells which infiltrated the hepatic tissues were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Th17/T reg cell ratio (P < 0.001) and blood concentrations of IL-17a and IL-23 (P < 0.05) were increased in the BA as compared to the HC group. Expressions of Foxp3, ROR-γt, IL-17a, IL-1β, IL-6 as well as TGF-β1 mRNA and proteins were significantly increased in BA as compared to HC livers (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). High levels of IL-17a/ROR-γt-positive and moderate levels of Foxp3-positive cells infiltrated damaged BA bile ducts and the ratio of FoxP3+ T to CD4+ T cells was significantly lower in BA than in HC samples (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cytokine-induced imbalance between Th17 and T reg cells in BA livers may be involved in bile duct damage.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yong-jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shao-tao
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Guo-qing
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Jing-hui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xin-xin
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yong-zhong
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Mao
mesh_terms: D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000378:metabolism*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D020381:Interleukin-17; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D053759:Interleukin-23; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; C052994:interleukin-1beta (163-171)