Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of IL-17A in promoting the activation of lung fibroblasts and the secretion of chemokine CXCL12, and to explore the possible mechanism. METHODS: Lung tissues of BALB/c mice were collected after intraperitoneal injection of recombinant mouse IL-17A (rmIL-17A). Real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen I in lung tissues, and immunohistochemical staining and real-time RT-PCR were used to determine the expression of CXCL12. Normal mouse primary lung fibroblasts were isolated and cultured, and identified by immunofluorescence staining with optical microscopy. Cells and supernatant of culture medium were collected after stimulation with rmIL-17A at different concentrations. mRNA levels of α-SMA, collagen I, and CXCL12 in the cells were determined by real-time RT-PCR, and the levels of collagen I and CXCL12 in the supernatant of culture medium were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: The mRNA and protein levels of α-SMA and collagen I in the lung tissue of mice injected with rmIL-17A were significantly increased compared with the control group (all P<0.01). The mRNA levels of α-SMA, collagen I and CXCL12 in mice primary lung fibroblasts were increased after stimulation of rmIL-17A at different concentrations (all P<0.01), and the concentration of collagen Ⅰ and CXCL12 in the supernatants of culture medium were also increased in a dose-dependent manner (all P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: s: IL-17A can promote the activation of lung fibroblasts and translation into myofibroblast. The secretion of collagen is increased, which promote the deposition of extracullular matrix, and leads to the occurrence and development of lung fibrosis. CXCL12, a chemokine secreted by activated fibroblasts, may be involved in this process.