Back to Search
Start Over
Progression of fibrosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis is associated with IL-17(+) neutrophils.
- Source :
-
Liver international : official journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver [Liver Int] 2016 Aug; Vol. 36 (8), pp. 1116-24. Date of Electronic Publication: 2016 Feb 03. - Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- Background & Aims: The pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-17 plays a crucial role in liver diseases associated with hepatic fibrosis and increased risk of cancer development. Nevertheless, the cellular source of this cytokine has never been characterized in patients with liver fibrosis.<br />Methods: In this study, we investigated liver biopsies from 49 patients with chronic viral hepatitis at different stages of liver fibrosis. We monitored IL-17 production by intracellular flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical in situ stainings, allowing a precise quantification, characterization and localization of IL-17(+) cells.<br />Results: Density of IL-17(+) cells increased with the stage of liver fibrosis specifically in fibrotic septa and portal areas (correlation coefficient r = 0.7373; P < 0.0001). Data clearly show that the frequency of intrahepatic IL-17(+) lymphocytes (including T, NKT and NK cells) was independent on stage of liver fibrosis, and we observed no statistical differences in number of IL-17(+) macrophages during progression of fibrosis. On the other hand, the number of IL-17(+) neutrophils in fibrotic septa and portal areas strongly correlated with the stages of fibrosis (correlation coefficient r = 0.6986; P < 0.0001), contributing significantly to total IL-17 production in liver tissue.<br />Conclusions: Our data indicate that neutrophils represent an important source of IL-17 in the human liver, especially in late fibrosis stages. Inhibition of this specific harmful subset of neutrophils may offer therapeutic opportunities in fibrotic liver.<br /> (© 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
- Subjects :
- Aged
Biopsy
Female
Fluorescent Antibody Technique
France
Hepatitis, Viral, Human pathology
Humans
Liver Cirrhosis pathology
Macrophages cytology
Male
Middle Aged
Th17 Cells cytology
Disease Progression
Hepatitis, Viral, Human immunology
Interleukin-17 metabolism
Liver Cirrhosis immunology
Neutrophils cytology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1478-3231
- Volume :
- 36
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Liver international : official journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 26749555
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/liv.13060