Th17细胞及其效应分子IL-17在HAM/TSP患者体内的变化及Tax蛋白对IL-17的影响

The effects of Tax protein on the alteration of the Th17 cells and IL-17 in HAM/TSP patients

目的研究Th17细胞及其效应分子IL-17在HTLV-Ι相关性脊髓病/热带痉挛性截瘫(HTLV-Ιassociated myelopsthy/tropical spastic paraparesis,HAM/TSP)患者中的变化及Tax蛋白对IL-17的影响。方法分别应用ELISA法和流式细胞技术检测HAM/TSP患者CSF上清液中的IL-17水平及外周血Th17细胞的百分率。应用RNAi干扰技术抑制Tax蛋白的表达,并用ELISA法检测干扰后细胞培养悬浮液中IL-17的表达。结果HAM/TSP患者脑脊液上清中IL-17含量(4.58±0.70)pg/mL较对照组(0.76±0.17)pg/mL显著升高(P<0.01);HAM/TSP患者外周血中Th17细胞的百分率(2.00%±0.64%)较对照组(0.41%±0.24%)显著升高(P<0.01)。RNAi技术干扰Tax蛋白表达后,IL-17水平(5.04±1.27)pg/mL较未干扰组细胞培养悬浮液中IL-17水平(7.69±2.11)pg/mL显著降低(P<0.05)。结论 Th17细胞及其效应分子IL-17在HAM/TSP患者体内显著提高,提示在其发病机制中发挥一定作用,而且IL-17的表达水平受Tax蛋白调控。

Objective To investigate the levels of Th17 cells, IL-17 and their relationship with Tax protein in HAM/TSP patients. Methods The levels of IL-17 in the CSF and the ratio of Th17 cells in the peripheral blood of pa- tients with HAM/TSP were detected using ELISA and FACS respectively. IL-17 expression in the cell culture suspen- sion was detected using ELISA. RNA interference was used to inhibit Tax expression. Results Compared with control group, the levels of IL-17 in the CSF in patients with HAM/TSP significantly increased （4.58±0.70 pg/mL vs. 0.76±0.17 pg/mL, P〈0.01 ）. Compared with control group, the ratio of Th17 cells in the peripheral blood in patients with HAM/TSP significantly increased （2.00%±0.64% vs. 0.41%±0.24%, P〈0.01）. Compared with SiRNA veetor-transfect- ed control group, IL-17 level significantly decreased in the group transfected with siRNA against Tax （5.04±1.27 pg/ mL vs. 7.69±2.11 pg/mL, P〈0.05）. Conclusions The levels of Th17 cells and IL-17 significantly increase in HAM/TSP patients, which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease. In addition, tax protein can regulate IL-17 expression.