Changes in Th17 and IL-17 levels during acute rejection after mouse skin transplantation

To investigate the fluctuation patterns of Th17 and IL-17 cytokines during acute skin graft rejection in mice.

Preparations for mouse skin transplantation model. At days 1, 3, 5, and 7 post-grafting, the number of Th17 cells in the spleens was quantified by flow cytometry (FCM); IL-17 mRNA expression in the spleens and the skin grafts were analyzed by semiquantitative RT-PCR. Serum IL-17 levels were determined by enzyme-labeled immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

The number of Th17 cells in the spleens gradually increased and peaked at day 7 post-grafting. IL-17 mRNA expression in the skin was strongest at day 5 post-grafting. IL-17 levels in peripheral blood was highest at day 5 post-grafting.

Acute rejection of allogeneic skin grafts in mice may correlate with the number of Th17 lymphocytes and the secretion of cytokine IL-17. Th17 cell count and IL-17 level may serve as important reference indices for early rejection reactions after skin grafting.