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Plasma IL-17A Is Increased in New-Onset SLE Patients and Associated with Disease Activity

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Abstract

Objective

To investigate the role of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) and Th17 cell in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we studied the plasma IL-17A and the expression of Th17 cell transcription factor RORγt in Chinese new-onset SLE patients.

Methods

Sixty SLE patients aged between 18 and 40 years and 56 age-matched healthy volunteers were involved in the study. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure plasma IL-17A level, and rea1-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to measure RORγt mRNA.

Results

The results showed that both IL-17A level and RORγt mRNA in SLE patients were higher than that of controls. Correlation analysis indicated that plasma IL-17A level was positively correlated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index, not with RORγt mRNA.

Conclusion

We concluded that IL-17A might play a role in the pathogenesis of SLE and associated with disease activity. RORγt-determined Th17 cell might be involved with increased IL-17A in SLE but not exclusively the unique source.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rheumatology, Zhongnan Hospital, Medical College of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China

    Xiao Qi Chen, Yan Cheng Yu, Hao Hua Deng, Jia Zhong Sun, Zhe Dai, Yu Wen Wu & Miao Yang

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  1. Xiao Qi Chen
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  2. Yan Cheng Yu
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  3. Hao Hua Deng
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  4. Jia Zhong Sun
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  5. Zhe Dai
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  6. Yu Wen Wu
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  7. Miao Yang
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Correspondence to Xiao Qi Chen.

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Chen, X.Q., Yu, Y.C., Deng, H.H. et al. Plasma IL-17A Is Increased in New-Onset SLE Patients and Associated with Disease Activity. J Clin Immunol 30, 221–225 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10875-009-9365-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10875-009-9365-x

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