Expression and clinical significance of IL-17 and IL-17 receptor in ulcerative colitis.

The purpose of this study was to determine the expression levels of IL-17 in serum and IL-17 receptor (IL-17R) in intestinal mucosa tissue in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and controls, and evaluate their relationship with disease activity and explore the role of IL-17 in the patho-genesis of UC. A total of 36 Chinese UC patients and 60 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Serum IL-17 and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were determined by ELISA and immunonephelometry, respectively. The IL-17R mRNA expression levels were detected by quantitative PCR. Serum IL-17 levels were significantly elevated in UC patients as compared with those in the healthy controls (P<0.05). Among UC patients, serum IL-17 levels were significantly increased in active phase as compared with those in inactive phase (P<0.05), and correlated with CRP levels (r=0.578, P<0.01). IL-17R expression levels were higher in active UC patients than in healthy controls (P<0.05). It was concluded that IL-17 levels were highly expressed in UC, especially in active phase, and correlated with CRP levels in UC patients.