Objective CD4 +IL-17 +cells are a group of newly discovered effector CD4 +T cells, which may play a key role in the pathogenesis of cancer.This study aims to investigate the expres-sion of CD4 +IL-17 +cells in pancreatic cancer and its correlation with the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of the dis-ease as well as the clinical significance of the cells in the microenvironment of pancreatic cancer. Methods We collected tumor tis-sue and tumor-adjacent normal tissue samples from 51 pancreatic cancer patients.We determined the expressions of CD34 and vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) and measured the proportion of IL-17 +cells in the cancer tissue using immunohistochemistry and the fluorescence activated cell sorter, respectively, followed by analysis of their correlation with tumor angiogenesis, clinicopathological pa-rameters, and survival time of the patients. Results The percentage of CD4 +IL-17 +cells in tumor tissue was positively correlated with microvessel density (r =0.534, P<0.05) and the expression of VEGF in the tumor tissue (r=0.356, P<0.05).IL-17 +cells were expressed more highly in the tumorous than in the tumor-adjacent normal tissue (P<0.05), and the expression level was correla-ted with the stage of tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05), but not with the patients′gender or age, tumor size, tumor location, histological grade, or local invasion (P>0.05).Fifty (98.0%) of the patients were successfully followed up for 2-67 months, which revealed a median survival time of 16.6 ±4.8 months, significantly longer in those with a higher expression of intratumoral IL-17 +cells (P<0.05).Univariate analysis showed an association of the survival rate with the tumor size, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, and level of intratumoral IL-17 +cells, while multivariate analysis showed the TNM stage to be an independent prognostic factor for the survival of the pancreatic cancer patients. Conclusion The expression of CD4 +IL-17 +cells in the tumor tissue is positively correlated with tumor angiogenesis, while that of IL-17 +cells with the clinicopathological parameters and survival time of the patients and therefore may serve as an important immune indicator for the prognosis of pancreatic cancer.

OBJECTIVE：To stud y the effects of Zhitong shunqi capsule on JAK/STAT signaling pathway of chronic atrophic gastritis（CAG）model rats ，and to provide reference for clarifying its mechanism of improving CAG. METHODS ：Totally 60 SD rats were randomly divided into blank group ，model group ，positive control group [vitacoenzyme ，0.09 g/（kg·d）]，Zhitong shunqi capsule low-dose ，medium-dose and high-dose groups [ 0.75，1.5，3 g/（kg·d）]，with 10 rats in each group. Except for blank group，other groups were given N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine freely drinking combined with abnormal ingestion method to induce CAG model. After end of modeling ，administration groups were given relevant medicine intragastrically ，blank group and model group were given constant volume of water intragastrically ，for consecutive 28 d. After end of medication ，ELISA method was used to determine the serum levels of IL- 1β and IL-6；the gastric mucosa tissue pathologic change was observed by HE staining；mRNA and protein expressions of JAK 1，STAT3，SOCS-3 and c-Myc in gastric mucosa tissue were detected by real-time PCR and Western blotting assay. RESULTS ：Compared with blank group ，the sparse and irregular glands with deep staining cell nucleus could be seen in the gastric mucosa of rats in model group ；serum levels of IL- 1 β and IL-6，mRNA and protein expressions of JAK 1，STAT3 and c-Myc in gastric mucosa tissue were increased significantly （P＜0.05），while mRNA and protein expression of SOCS- 3 in gastric mucosa tissue were decreased significantly （P＜0.05）. Compared with model group ， glandular arrangement of gastric mucosa was more orderly and the number of heavy stained cells was less in administration groups；serum level of IL- 6 and mRNA expression of c-Myc in gastric mucosa of rats was decreased significantly in Zhitong shunqi capsule low-dose group （P＜0.05），while the protein expression of SOCS- 3 was increased significantly （P＜0.05）； serum levels of IL- 1β and IL-6，mRNA expressions of JAK 1，STAT3 and c-Myc in gastric mucosa tissue ，protein expression of JAK1 were decreased significantly in Zhitong shunqi capsule medium-dose group （P＜0.05），while mRNA and protein expression of SOCS- 3 was increased significantly in gastric mucosa tissue （P＜0.05）；above indexes were improved significantly in positive control group and Zhitong shunqi capsule high-dose group （P＜0.05）. Compared with positive control group ，mRNA and protein expression of STAT 3 in gastric mucosa tissue were decreased significantly in Zhitong shunqi capsule high-dose group （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS：Zhitong shunqi capsule can improve CAG model rat to certain extent ，the mechanism of which may be associated with the down-regulation of mRNA and protein of JAK 1，STAT3 and c-Myc ，and up-regulation of mRNA and protein of SOCS-3.