[The increased level of IL-17 in stomach and up-regulated splenic Th17 cell frequency and IL-17 mRNA level in rats infected with Helicobacter pylori].

Objective: To investigate the variation of Th17 cell frequency and IL-17 level in rats infected with Helicobacter pylori (Hp).

Methods: A total of 30 rats were used to be infected with Hp by intragastric administration of bacterial suspension. Every 10 rats were sacrificed after 3, 6 and 9 weeks, respectively. The gastric tissues of rats were pathologically examined by HE staining. The level of IL-17 in the gastric tissues of rats was detected by ELISA. The flow cytometry was performed to determine Th17 cell frequency and reverse transcription PCR was to detect the level of IL-17 mRNA in single-cell suspensions of rat spleen.

Results: Hp infection induced the obvious pathological changes in the rat gastric mucosa. The level of IL-17 in the gastric tissues increased with the prolonging of the Hp infection. Both Th17 cell frequency and IL-17 mRNA level in rat spleen cells infected with Hp at 3, 6 and 9 weeks were significantly higher than those in control rats, and they were significantly different when compared among different time points.

Conclusion: Hp infection could induce the damage of rat gastric mucosa and increase IL-17 level in the stomach. Furthermore, Hp infection could up-regulate the Th17 cell frequency and IL-17 mRNA level in rat spleen cells.