Effect of interleukin-17 and T helper cell 17 on acute heart allograft rejection in mice / 中南大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the role of T helper cell 17(Th17) cells and their cytokines IL-17 in heart allograft rejection in mice.@*METHODS@#The heart transplantation models were randomly divided into 2 groups a allograft group (n=12) and an isograft group (n=12).On the post-operative day (POD) 3 and 7, serum IL-17 level was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Th17 cells in heart grafts were measured by flow cytometry. The heart grafts were harvested and saved in 10% formalin, and then embedded in paraffin.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the iso-graft group, the allograft group had a higher serum level of IL-17 on POD3 and POD7 (P<0.05), and the level of IL-17 was higher on POD7 than that on POD3 (P<0.05). The allograft group had more Th17 cells infiltrating in grafts on POD3 and POD7 (P<0.05) and there were more Th17 cells infiltrating on POD7 than that on POD3 (P<0.05). Histological examination showed that the prolongation of post transplantation time resulted in more rejection pathological changes.@*CONCLUSION@#Th17 cells may play an important role in the development of heart transplant rejection. IL-17 may serve as a predictive parameter for allograft rejection in the future.