This study was aimed to explore the killing effect of PBMNC induced by IL-23 alone or combined with IL-2 on K562 cells and its mechanism. The PBMNC were induced in vitro by IL-23 (50 ng/ml) alone or IL-23 combined with IL-2 (100 U/ml) for 72 h, and then were co-cultured with leukemia cell line K562. The CCK-8 method was used to detect the effect of PBMNC induced at different times on K562 cells, the ELISA was performed for detecting IFN-γ level in culture supernatant, and the perforin and granzymes B were detected by RQ-PCR. The results showed that the killing effect of PBMNC induced by IL-23 alone or IL-23 combined with IL-2 on K562 cells was observed, and obviously enhanced with prolonging of time, moreover, there was statistical difference among different time points (P < 0.05). The IFN-γ level in supernatant of PBMNC cultured with cytokines significantly increased, and the IFN-γ levels in group of IL-23 combined with IL-2 were higher than that in other groups (P < 0.05). The mRNA expressions level of perforin and granzymes B of the expanded PBMNC in groups cultured with cytokines were higher than that in control group (P < 0.05), and the mRNA expressions of perforin and granzymes B in group of IL-23 combined with IL-2 were significantly higher than that in others (P < 0.05). It is concluded that IL-23 can promote the killing effect of PBMNC on K562 cells. The combination of IL-2 with IL-23 displays synergic effect and a time-dependent manner. IL-23 also enhances the expression of IFN-γ, perforin and granzyme B in PBMNC. Its combination with IL-2 displays synergistic effect, suggesting that the anti-leukemic activity of IL-23 may be realized through inducing PBMNC to express IFN-γ, perforin and granzyme B.
Granzymes ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-2 ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-23 ; pharmacology ; K562 Cells ; Monocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Perforin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of CCL20/CCR6/Th17 axis in vascular invasion and metastasis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSExpression levels of CCL20 mRNA in the normal human liver cell line L-02, and human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines Hep3B, Huh7 and HepG2 were quantified by using SYBR green real time PCR. CCL20 secretions from these cell lines were quantified by using ELISA. The chemotactic effect of HCC cell line Hep3B on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells was determined by using transwell chemotaxis assay. Pre-therapy serum levels of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17, IL-23, IFN-γ, TNF-α and CCL20 in 93 patients with HCC were measured by using 9-plex array and ELISA. All the patients were chronic hepatitis B virus associated HCC, and 51 cases were those with vascular invasion and metastasis (metastasis group) and 42 cases were not (non-metastasis group). CCL20 and CCR6 mRNA expressions in the HCC and tumor-adjacent tissues were determined by using SYBR Green real time PCR in 41 patients, among them, 20 cases were from the group of patients with metastasis and 21 cases were from the group of patients without metastasis. The CCL20 expression was further determined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe HCC cell lines expressed and secreted higher amount of CCL20, which effectively recruited CCR6(+) T cells. Pre-therapy serum levels of CCL20 in 93 HCC patients were (38.2 ± 28.4)pg/ml, significantly increased than those with benign hepatic hemangiomas [(7.8 ± 17.8)pg/ml, P < 0.01]. In addition, the serum levels of CCL20 were positively correlated with the tumor diameters in HCC patients (r = 0.32, P = 0.0018). CCL20 was dominantly expressed in the cytoplasm in HCC cells, and it was also expressed by some infiltrating immune cells. The mRNA expression levels of CCL20 of the tumor tissues were significantly higher than that in the tumor-adjacent tissues (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that serum levels of IL-17 and CCL20 were independent risk factors of metastasis in HCC patients (P < 0.05 for both). CCL20 mRNA showed no statistically significant differences between patients with metastasis and without metastasis in both tumor tissues and tumor-adjacent tissues (P > 0.05 for both). But the patients with metastasis showed significantly higher expressions of CCR6 both in their tumor [5.75 (1.79, 19.13)]and tumor-adjacent tissues [7.99 (4.49, 19.54)] than those with non-metastasis [1.69 (0.76, 2.87) and 3.58 (1.84, 4.32), P < 0.05 for both].

CONCLUSIONCCL20/CCR6/Th17 axis may promote vascular invasion and metastasis hepatocellular carcinoma.

Bile Duct Neoplasms ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; Chemokine CCL20 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-17 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-23 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-8 ; metabolism ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Th17 Cells ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThis study aims to detect the expression level of interleukin-23 (IL-23) in tongue squamous cell carcinoma tissues and its relationship with clinical prognosis, as well as explore the anti-apoptotic and drug resistance of the tongue squamous cell line-SCC9 before and after treatment with IL-23.

METHODSThe expression of IL-23 in tumor tissues from 28 tongue cancer patients was analyzed by immunohistochemistry assay. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of Wingless-related integration site (Wnt)1 and c-myc in SCC9 cells treated with different IL-23 concentrations. After interferencing the β-catenin with small interfering RNA (siRNA), the expression of β-catenin, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 2 (ABCG2), and permeability-glycoprotein (P-gp) in SCC9 was measured by Western blot analysis. The effect of IL-23 on the apoptotic resistance of SCC9 to cisplatin was examined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium test.

RESULTSThe expression of IL-23 in tongue cancer tissues was correlated with lymphatic metastasis, nerve invasion, and the recurrence after therapy (P<0.05). After dealing with IL-23, SCC9 showed the upregulation effect of Bcl-2, ABCG2 and P-gp expressions. IL-23 was closely related to the activation level of the Wnt pathway and significantly strengthened the resistance to cisplatin (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONIL-23 activates the Wnt pathway in tongue squamous cell carcinoma, thereby enhancing its resistance to apoptosis and drug.

Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cisplatin ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; physiology ; Humans ; Interleukin-23 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-23 Subunit p19 ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tongue Neoplasms ; metabolism ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of IL-17 and IL-23 in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis(AR) and non. allergic rhinitis(NAR). METHOD: Selected 156 cases of patients with allergic rhinitis (AR group) and 59 cases of patients with non-allergic rhinitis (NAR group), 60 cases of healthy people (control group). All cases in AR group and NAR groups were evaluated by a visual analog scale (VAS) score of nasal symptoms. Collected peripheral blood and nasal secretions in all cases and then detected IL-17 and IL-23 expression levels. RESULT: There was no significant difference in VAS score of AR group and NAR group (P>0. 05). IL-17 and IL-23 levels of serum and nasal secretions in AR group and NAR group were both higher than control group, with a highly significant difference (P <0. 05). The research showed a clear correlation between expression of IL-17 and IL-23 both in serum and nasal secretions of AR group and NAR(P<0. 05). CONCLUSION IL-17 and IL-23 may be important cytokines and IL-23/IL-17 pathway may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis and non-allergic rhinitis.
Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Interleukin-17 ; blood ; metabolism ; Interleukin-23 ; blood ; metabolism ; Nasal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Rhinitis ; blood ; metabolism ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; blood ; metabolism

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and immunologic regulation function of interleukin-23 and its related cytokines in chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) patients. Levels of cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) were detected by reverse-transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction in 30 patients with chronic ITP and 15 healthy volunteers. The quantity of IL-23, IL-12, IL-17 in serum was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that low detectable mRNA levels of IL-23p19, IL-12p35, IL-27 and IL-12p40 were found in all patients and healthy persons. Trace of IL-17 mRNA were expressed in PBMNC of part of patients and normal controls. Levels of IL-12p35, IL-27, IL-17 mRNA between healthy persons and chronic ITP patients were not statistically different. Compared with normal controls, patients showed the lower expression levels of IL-23p19 and IL-12p40 mRNA (p < 0.01). The IL-12 levels of chronic ITP patients were significantly higher than that of normal controls (p < 0.01). The IL-23 and IL-17 levels of chronic ITP patients were same to that of normal controls. It is concluded that the imbalance of T cell subsets in ITP patients mainly associated with IL-12, but not with IL-23 and IL-17.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-12 Subunit p35 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-12 Subunit p40 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-17 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-23 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-23 Subunit p19 ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of IL- 23/IL- 17 axis in peripheral blood of patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia （ITP） and its clinical significance.

METHODSThe real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction（RT-PCR）was used to determine the expression of IL-23p19, p40, p35, IL-23R, IL-12Rβ1, IL-12Rβ2, IL-17A, IL-17F mRNA in the peripheral blood of 45 ITP patients and 30 healthy controls. The correlations between the expression of IL-23 and IL- 17, platelet counts, serum cytokine concentrations of ITP patients were analyzed. Furthermore, nine newly diagnosed ITP patients were followed up during treatment.

RESULTSThe gene expressions of IL-23p19, p40, IL-23R, IL-12Rβ1, IL-17A, IL-17F in ITP patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls, the relative expression levels of ITP were 5.58, 2.13, 4.20, 2.45, 4.29, 2.50 times as much as that of healthy controls. And elevated serum IL-23［（198.70±94.56）ng/L vs（50.72±22.97）ng/L, t= 10.06, P<0.001］, IL-17［（85.25±21.97）ng/L vs（11.39±4.27）ng/L, t=21.94，P<0.001］levels were also observed in these ITP patients. In addition, the serum IL-23 level in ITP patients was positively correlated with IL-17（r=0.496, P<0.01）, but negatively correlated with the platelet counts（r=-0.408, P<0.01）, and IL-17 level was negatively correlated with platelet counts（r=-0.464, P<0.01）.

CONCLUSIONThe IL-23/IL- 17 expression in ITP patients was significantly elevated, indicating IL-23/IL-17 play an important role in the pathogenesis of ITP.

Case-Control Studies ; Cytokines ; blood ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Interleukin-17 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-23 ; metabolism ; Platelet Count ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger

Macrophages acquire distinct phenotypes during tissue stress and inflammatory responses. Macrophages are roughly categorized into two different subsets named inflammatory M1 and anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages. We herein identified a unique pathogenic macrophage subpopulation driven by IL-23 with a distinct gene expression profile including defined types of cytokines. The freshly isolated resting mouse peritoneal macrophages were stimulated with different cytokines in vitro, the expression of cytokines and chemokines were detected by microarray, real-time PCR, ELISA and multiple colors flow cytometry. Adoptive transfer of macrophages and imiquimod-induced psoriasis mice were used. In contrast to M1- and M2-polarized macrophages, IL-23-treated macrophages produce large amounts of IL-17A, IL-22 and IFN-γ. Biochemical and molecular studies showed that IL-23 induces IL-17A expression in macrophages through the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)-retinoid related orphan receptor-γ T (RORγT) pathway. T-bet mediates the IFN-γ production in IL-23-treated macrophages. Importantly, IL-23-treated macrophages significantly promote the dermatitis pathogenesis in a psoriasis-like mouse model. IL-23-treated resting macrophages express a distinctive gene expression prolife compared with M1 and M2 macrophages. The identification of IL-23-induced macrophage polarization may help us to understand the contribution of macrophage subpopulation in Th17-cytokines-related pathogenesis.
Animals ; Cell Polarity ; Imiquimod ; Interleukin-23 ; metabolism ; Macrophages ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Psoriasis ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology

To investigate the peripheral levels and clinical significance of Th17/Treg cell-associated cytokines in patients with acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) or chronic GVHD (cGVHD), blood samples were collected from 39 hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation patients and 20 healthy donors. The patients included 10 patients with aGVHD, 13 patients with cGVHD and 16 patients without evidence of GVHD. Th17/Treg cell-associated cytokines such as IFNγ, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TGF-β(1), IL-17 and IL-23 were detected by ELISA. The results showed that the plasma levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-6, IL-17 and IL-23 significantly increased in patients with aGVHD or cGVHD, compared with the patients without clinical signs of GVHD and the healthy donors (p < 0.05), while IL-10 and TGF-β(1) were obviously lower than that of them (p < 0.05). After aGVHD and cGVHD patients were treated effectively, the plasma levels of IL-6, IL-17 and IL-23 were significantly decreased, and IL-10, TGF-β(1) were significantly increased, while the levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 did not markedly change. The TGF-β(1) level were negatively correlated with IL-6 (r = -0.36, p < 0.05), IL-17 (r = -0.51, p < 0.05) and IL-23 (r = -0.44, p < 0.05) respectively, while there were positive correlations between IL-6 and IL-17 (r = 0.62, p < 0.05), IL-6 and IL-23 (r = 0.71, p < 0.05), IL-17 and IL-23 (r = 0.93, p < 0.05). It is concluded that Th17/Treg cell-associated cytokines may play an important role in the development of a/cGVHD, which helps to find novel targets for developing new strategies of GVHD treatment.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Cytokines ; blood ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; blood ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-17 ; blood ; Interleukin-23 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; blood ; Young Adult

T helper (Th) 17 cells are a kind of Th cell subset, and are distinct from the Th1 and Th2 cells and produce interleukin-17A (IL-17A, IL-17). Th17 cells have a mechanism of independent differentiation and developmental regulation. The differentiation and cytokine secretion of Th17 cells are regulated by TGF-β, IL-6, IL-23 and orphan nuclear receptor (RORγt). IL-17A induces pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, mediating neutrophil recruitment. Increasing evidence implicated involvement of Th17 cells in anti-glomerular basement membrane disease, lupus nephritis and pauciimmune glomerulonephritis. In this review, we discussed the discovery of Th17 subset, its properties, its relationship with other Th subsets and involvement of Th17 cells in glomerulonephritis.
Animals ; Glomerulonephritis ; immunology ; Humans ; Interleukin-17 ; metabolism ; physiology ; Interleukin-23 Subunit p19 ; physiology ; Interleukin-6 ; physiology ; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 ; physiology ; Th17 Cells ; immunology ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; physiology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of interleukin (IL)-23 in the nasal mucosa of allergic rhinitis patients and its significance. METHOD: mRNA and protein expression of IL-23 in inferior turbinate mucosa from 12 allergic rhinitis patients and 11 control patients was measured by means of real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. RESULT: IL-23p19 mRNA relative expression level in nasal mucosa was significantly increased in allergic rhinitis patients compared with normal controls (P < 0.01). Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that IL-23 protein was mainly expressed by infiltrating inflammatory cells in lamina propria and there was increased number of IL-23 positive cells in allergic rhinitis patients in comparison with normal controls. Correlation analysis showed that the mRNA and protein expression level of IL-23 was significantly positively correlated with the number of the inflammatory cells (r = 0.678 and 0.644, respectively; both P < 0.01) and the degree of subepithelial collagen deposition (r = 0.834 and 0.721, respectively; both P < 0.01). IL-23p19 mRNA relative expression level in nasal mucosa was significantly decreased in allergic rhinitis patients who used glucocorticoids compared with controls (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION IL-23 may contribute to the chronic inflammation and airway remodelling in allergic rhinitis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; immunology ; Interleukin-23 ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Mucosa ; immunology ; metabolism ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; immunology ; Young Adult