IL-17 exacerbates experimental autoimmune prostatitis via CXCL1/CXCL2-mediated neutrophil infiltration

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a poorly understood disease. Accumulating evidence suggests that autoimmune dysfunction is involved in the development of CP/CPPS. Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is associated with the occurrence and development of several chronic autoimmune inflammatory diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of IL-17 in CP/CPPS are not clear. We confirmed that IL-17 was increased in the prostate tissues of experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) mice. Corresponding to the increase of IL-17, neutrophil infiltration and the levels of CXCL1 and CXCL2 (CXC chemokine ligands 1 and 2) were also increased in the prostate of EAP. Treatment of EAP mice with an IL-17-neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb) decreased the number of infiltrated neutrophils and CXCL1 and CXCL2 levels. Depletion of neutrophils using anti-Ly6G antibodies ameliorated the inflammatory changes and hyperalgesia caused by EAP. Fucoidan, a could potent inhibitor of neutrophil migration, also ameliorate the manifestations of EAP. Our findings suggested that IL-17 promoted the production of CXCL1 and CXCL2, which triggered neutrophil chemotaxis to prostate tissues. Fucoidan might be a potential drug for the treatment of EAP via the effective inhibition of neutrophil infiltration.