Association Between the Expression of T Helper Type 17 Cell-Related Cytokines and Valve Damage in Rheumatic Heart Disease

• Published in: Molecular biotechnology 2024-11
• Main Authors: Zhang, Caiyun, Xiao, Zhenghua, Yang, Dongmei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1073-6085; 1559-0305; 1559-0305
• DOI: 10.1007/s12033-024-01321-4

The study aimed to clarify the association between Th17 cell-related cytokine expressions and valve damage in rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Twenty RHD patients undergoing mitral valve replacement surgery were selected as the observation group (Group O), and 20 non-rheumatic valve disease patients undergoing mitral valve replacement surgery (degenerative mitral valve prolapse) were recruited as the control group (Group C). Histopathological examination with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was conducted to observe inflammatory cell infiltration, fibrosis, and neovascularization. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to analyze Th17 cell-related cytokines (interleukin (IL)-17, IL-6, IL-23, IL-21) in patients' cardiac valve tissues. Spearman correlation analysis was employed to investigate the correlation between Th17-related cytokines and inflammatory cell infiltration, fibrosis, and neovascularization. compared to the Group C, the Group O exhibited significantly higher proportions of IL-17, IL-21, IL-6, and IL-23 positive cells and immunohistochemical scores in valve tissues (P