title: IL-27 alleviates the bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis by regulating the Th17 cell differentiation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interleukin-27 (IL-27) is a multifunctional cytokine with both pro-inflammatory and immunoregulatory functions. At present, the role of IL-27 in pulmonary fibrosis remains unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we observed the expression of IL-27/IL-27R in a mouse model of bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis. We verified the role of IL-27 using hematoxylin and eosin as well as Masson's staining methods and measuring the content of hydroxyproline as well as collagen I and III. We assessed the differentiation of T lymphocytes in the spleen and measured the concentration of cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and the expression level of relevant proteins in the JAK/STAT and TGF-ß/Smad signaling pathways in lung tissue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increased IL-27 expression in BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis was noted. IL-27 treatment may alleviate pulmonary fibrosis and increase the survival of mice. IL-27 inhibited the development of CD4(+) IL-17(+), CD4(+) IL-4(+) T, and CD4(+) Foxp3(+) cells and the secretion of IL-17, IL-4, IL-6, and TGF-ß. IL-27 induced the production of CD4(+) IL-10(+) and CD4(+) INF-γ(+) T cells. IL-27 decreased the levels of phosphorylated STAT1, STAT3, STAT5, Smad1, and Smad3 but increased the level of SOCS3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that IL-27 potentially attenuates BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis by regulating Th17 differentiation and cytokine secretion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China. dongkm@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Zhaoxing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Department of Hospital Services, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China. Llluuxx@163.com.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Scientific Research and Postgraduate Education, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China. 67936222@qq.com.
authors.forename: Yanni
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China. ZT6958@sina.com.cn.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China. lyx6349@qq.com.
authors.forename: Yongxia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China. chai_yanlin@126.com.
authors.forename: Yanlin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China. 2233851218@qq.com.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China. 497175530@qq.com.
authors.forename: Changbo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China. 228878270@qq.com.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ai
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Yunnan Molecular Diagnostic Center, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Dianmian Road, Kunming, Yunnan, China, 650101. 2820582685@qq.com.
authors.forename: Wenlin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000633:toxicity; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000633:toxicity; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D053612:Janus Kinases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051785:Smad Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D016207:Cytokines; C486767:Il27 protein, mouse; C484747:Il27ra protein, mouse; D007378:Interleukins; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors; D051785:Smad Proteins; C491411:Socs3 protein, mouse; D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D001761:Bleomycin; D053612:Janus Kinases