Imbalance between IL-17A-Producing Cells and Regulatory T Cells during Ischemic Stroke

• Published in: Mediators of Inflammation 2014-01, Vol.2014 (8), p.151-158
• Main Authors: Ni, Bing, Wu, Ya, Zheng, Yanhua, Hu, Yuehua, Shi, Shugui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Female; Flow Cytometry; Forkhead Transcription Factors - genetics; Health aspects; Humans; Interleukin-17 - metabolism; Interleukin-1beta - metabolism; Interleukin-23 - metabolism; Interleukin-6 - metabolism; Interleukins; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - metabolism; Male; Middle Aged; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 - genetics; Stroke (Disease); Stroke - blood; Stroke - immunology; T cells; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - metabolism
• ISSN: 0962-9351; 1466-1861
• DOI: 10.1155/2014/813045

Immune responses and inflammation are key elements in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke (IS). Although the involvement of IL-17A in IS has been demonstrated using animal models, the involvement of IL-17A and IL-17-secreting T cell subsets in IS patients has not been verified, and whether the balance of Treg/IL-17-secreting T cells is altered in IS patients remains unknown. In the present study, we demonstrated that the proportion of peripheral Tregs and the levels of IL-10 and TGF-β were reduced in patients with IS compared with controls using flow cytometry (FCM), real-time PCR, and ELISA assays. However, the proportions of Th17 and γδ T cells, the primary IL-17A-secreting cells, increased dramatically, and these effects were accompanied by increases in the levels of IL-17A, IL-23, IL-6, and IL-1β in IS patients. These studies suggest that the increase in IL-17A-producing cells and decrease in Treg cells might contribute to the pathogenesis of IS. Manipulating the balance between Tregs and IL-17A-producing cells might be helpful for the treatment of IS.