ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the IL‐17A/F and IL‐22 ,the Th17 related cytokine ,in the serum of cryptococcal meningitis patients and its clinical implications .Methods We collected peripheral blood from 22 cryptococcal meningitis patients and 20 matched healthy controls from February 2011 to February 2013 .Then the peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC)were seperat‐ed with isodensity centrifugation .The RT‐PCR and ELISA were used to detect the mRNA and protein lever of Th17 related cyto‐kine such as IL‐17A ,IL‐17F and IL‐22 .In addition ,the relationship between these cytokines and cerebrospinal fluid characteristics were analyzed .Results The serum concentration of IL‐17A and IL‐22 were much higher than that of healthy controls (P<0 .01) . Their concentration were even higher in patients with poor prognosis factors ,including higher cerebrospinal fluid protein level and cryptococcal antigen titer ,lower cerebrospinal fluid glucose concentration and increased cerebrospinal fluid open pressure .Conclusion IL‐17A and IL‐22 were involved in the pathogenesis of cryptococcal meningitis and may be a potential prognosis biomarker for cryptococcal meningitis.