Asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases. It is associated with significant morbidity and shows an increasing prevalence over time. Accumulating evidence suggests that interleukin (IL)-17 has a key role in severe asthma. The aim of the study was to determine quantitatively gene expression of IL-17 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMN) & the level of IL-17 in the serum of asthmatic patients, to correlate the level of IL-17 with the severity of asthma and to compare between gene expression of IL-17 and its serum level. Forty (40) asthmatic patients were enrolled and subdivided into 2 subgroups; controlled & uncontrolled asthma according to GINA, 2014. In addition, twenty (20) healthy control subjects were included. Blood samples were subjected to real time PCR assays for IL-17 mRNA gene expression and serum was tested by ELISA for estimation of IL-17 serum levels. Significant higher serum IL-17 levels were found in patients with uncontrolled asthma compared to patients with controlled asthma and healthy control group. Mean serum IL-17 value was 87.24 pg/ml in uncontrolled asthma, 75.9 pg/ml in controlled asthma and 47.0 pg/ml in healthy group (P= 0.00). IL-17 mRNA gene expression levels (ΔΔ Ct) were also significantly elevated in uncontrolled asthma compared to patients with controlled asthma and healthy control group. Mean IL-17 mRNA gene expression levels were 33.7 units in uncontrolled asthma, 7.0 in controlled asthma and 0.30 in healthy group (P=0.00).
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