| Role of T helper 17 Cytokines in Bacterial and Parasitic Infections |
| Paper ID : 1006-ISCHU |
| Authors |
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Soad Nady Hamed * Helwan University, Faculty of science, Zoology depart., Ain Helwan |
| Abstract |
| Th17 cells and their effector cytokines IL-17 and IL-22 usually mediate several autoimmune diseases and host defensive mechanisms to various pathogens, like extracellular bacteria, fungi and parasites. Th17 cells accumulate at mucosal surfaces of the gut, skin, as well as lung and various epithelial tissues express receptors for IL-17 and IL-22. Th17 cells stimulate other immune cells, as macrophages, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils and natural killer cells. These cells bind to the antibody-coated pathogens by their Fc and complement receptors regulating the protective immunity evolved against the pathogen. In a previous study from our laboratory, T helper 17 cells were involved in the immunopathology of cystic fibrosis caused by Burkholderia cenocepacia. They played a key role in recruitment of neutrophils and their cytokines IL-17 and IL-22, had differential effects during the neutrophil response to Burkholderia OmpA. It was reported that, Th17 cells are a crucial modulator of adaptive immunity against Leishmania parasites causing neutrophil recruitment and playing a dual role at the site of infection. In our published work about Schistosoma mansoni, we found that, IL-17 accelerates the granuloma formation induced by Schistosoma soluble egg antigen (SEA) and inhibits granulocytes functions in Schistosoma-infected patients, while IL-22 inhibited the granuloma formation, but enhanced granulocyte functions. However, in case of co-infection with Schistosoma and hepatitis C virus (HCV), IL-17 and IL-22 have differential effects on Neutrophil response. Additionally, based on Th17 activity and sera fibrosis biomarkers, we developed a novel score for diagnosis of liver fibrosis which may be useful for discrimination of severe from mild fibrosis patients without the need of liver biopsy. |
| Keywords |
| Burkholderia, Schistosoma, Th17 cytokines, fibrosis |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Oral Presentation) |