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IL-17 expression is correlated with hepatitis B‑related liver diseases and fibrosis
Liyun Wang1, Shijun Chen, Keshu Xu
1Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue 1277, Wuhan 430022, PR China.
IL-17-producing T cells (Th17) have been found to play important roles in several liver diseases, but few studies have evaluated the function of such cells in hepatitis B (HBV)‑related diseases, especially in hepatic fibrosis. In this study, we examined the expression of IL‑17 in patients with different chronic HBV-related diseases, and assessed the association between IL-17 expression and the degree of fibrosis. The method of immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the localization of intrahepatic IL-17. We demonstrated significantly increased expression of IL‑17 in HBV-related chronic liver diseases, especially in liver fibrosis, and that the level of IL-17 is strongly correlated with the degree of fibrosis. Furthermore, we found that intrahepatic IL‑17 was mainly localized in the fibrosis region. Our data reveal important roles of IL-17 and IL-17-producing cells in the progression of HBV related chronic liver diseases, especially in the formation of liver fibrosis.
IL-17-producing T cells (Th17) have been found to play important roles in several liver diseases, but few studies have evaluated the function of such cells in hepatitis B (HBV)‑related diseases, especially in hepatic fibrosis. In this study, we examined the expression of IL‑17 in patients with different chronic HBV-related diseases, and assessed the association between IL-17 expression and the degree of fibrosis. The method of immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the localization of intrahepatic IL-17. We demonstrated significantly increased expression of IL‑17 in HBV-related chronic liver diseases, especially in liver fibrosis, and that the level of IL-17 is strongly correlated with the degree of fibrosis. Furthermore, we found that intrahepatic IL‑17 was mainly localized in the fibrosis region. Our data reveal important roles of IL-17 and IL-17-producing cells in the progression of HBV related chronic liver diseases, especially in the formation of liver fibrosis.
