This study shows that IL-17 over expressed in PBC patients, it played a pro-inflammatory effect in the pathogenesis of PBC, most probably as a targeting drug research.
However, Serum SDF-1 level was significantly correlated with serum IL-17 (r = 0.373, P = 0.004), but not with IL-4 (r = 0.110, P = 0.407) and IFN-γ (r = 0.215, P = 0.098) in those with PBC.
PBC patients' serum levels of IL-23 and IL-17 were higher than those in a post-hepatic cirrhosis group and a healthy group, and were significantly higher in the early PBC disease stages than in the advanced PBC stages.
Our data demonstrate an increase in the frequency of IL-17(+) lymphocytic infiltration in liver tissues from PBC patients and those with other liver dysfunctions as compared to healthy livers.
Several IL-17-positive cells had infiltrated damaged bile ducts and the expression of IL-6 and IL-1 beta was enhanced in the bile ducts of PBC patients.