[An increased of Th17 cells and IL-23 and IL-17 in the lymph and blood of rats with bronchial asthma].

OBJECTIVE:To investigate whether immune response could change the number of CD4(+);IL-17(+);Th17 cells and the concentrations of IL-17 and IL-23 in the serum and lymph of asthmatic rats. METHODS:Both serum and lymph CD4(+);IL-17(+);Th17 cell numbers were measured by flow cytometry. The concentrations of IL-17 and IL-23 in the serum and lymph were assayed by ELISA. The expression of IL-23 p19 mRNA was examined by quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS:Mononuclear cells (MNC) were collected from the blood and lymph of rats 0, 24 and 48 hours after final ovalbumin stimulation and were subsequently cultured for 18 hours. The serum and lymph of the asthma group produced higher amounts of CD4(+);IL-17(+);Th17 cells, and higher levels of IL-23p19 mRNA, than those of the healthy controls (P < 0.05). In addition, compared to lymph, serum had significantly lower amounts of CD4(+);IL-17(+);Th17 cells, decreased expression of IL-23p19 mRNA, and reduced IL-23 and IL-17 concentratons (P < 0.05). Cytokines and cell numbers of Th17 cells from the asthma group significantly increased compared with that of control group. CONCLUSION:These data suggested that asthma-driven CD4(+);IL-17(+);Th17-cell proliferation and release of IL-17 and IL-23 may be associated with different immune activities between the serum and lymph.