Interleukin-23 Promotes Natural Killer T-Cell Production of IL-17 during Rat Liver Transplantation

Introduction. Cytokine interleukin-17 (IL-17) is a key proinflammatory mediator promoting allograft cytokine and chemokine production. In addition to Th17 cells, natural killer T (NKT) cells have also been shown to be capable of rapidly producing IL-17 after activation. Methods. The levels of IL-17 and IL-23 of liver allografts were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). IL-17 positive cells in CD1d CD4+ cells of grafts were detected using flow cytometry. Results. High expression of IL-17 and IL-23 was observed in liver allografts. The ratios of NKT cells were dramatically increased in the allograft group compared with that in the control group (P < .01). In vitro, blockage of IL-23 using anti-IL-23 antibody can inhibit increasing expression of IL-17 (P < .01). Conclusion. NKT cells contribute to production of IL-17 mediated by IL-23 on a rat acute allograft rejection model of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).