IL‐21 induction of CD4+ T cell differentiation into Th17 cells contributes to bleomycin‐induced fibrosis in mice

• DOI: 10.1002/cbin.10410
• Publication Date: 2014-12-09T18:14:37Z
• Authors: Ling Lei; Xiao‐Ning Zhong; Zhi‐Yi He; Cheng Zhao; Xue‐Jiao Sun
• Keywords: CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; 0301 basic medicine; Mice, Inbred BALB C; 0303 health sciences; Scleroderma, Systemic; Interleukins; Interleukin-17; Cell Differentiation; Fibrosis; Recombinant Proteins; Up-Regulation; 3. Good health; Bleomycin; Disease Models, Animal; Hydroxyproline; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; Animals; Th17 Cells; Female; Lung; Skin

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease characterized by fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. Th17 cells interleukin-17 (also called IL-17A) have been found to be increased in peripheral blood patients with SSc. IL-21 potent inducer differentiation that produced activated T cells, whose relationship SSc unclear. Here, using bleomycin (BLM)-induced mouse model fibrosis, we detected frequency CD4+/IL-17+ (Th17) CD4+/IL-21+ IL-21+ blood, lungs, as well serum content IL-17A IL-21. In addition, assessed CD4+ cultured from these mice into response treatment Compared control mice, cell counts levels were significantly correlated inflammatory fibrotic indices lungs BLM-induced mice. Moreover, positively cells. vitro experiments showed treated derived differentiated Our results indicate contributes processes expansion population may subsequent promotion