Aim: To study the serum contents of IL-23 and IL-17 in the patients with ulcerative colitis and the clinical significance.
Methods: 40 patients with ulcerative colitis as UC group and 30 healthy people as control group were selected. The serum contents of IL-23 and IL-17 were determined bII ELISA.
Results: Serum contents of IL-23 AND IL-17 in UC group were higher than those in control group significantly (t=18.76, 21.48, P<0.01). Serum contents of IL-23 and IL-17 increase with the clinical symptoms. Serum contents of IL-23 AND IL-17 in severe patients were higher than those of mild and moderate patients significantly, and serum contents of IL-23 and IL-17 in mild patients were higher than those of moderate patients significantly. Serum contents of IL-23 were positively correlated to IL-17 significantly (r=0.548, P<0.01).
Conclusion: IL-23 and IL-17 participates in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis. IL-23 may play a critical role in the development of UC through inducing production of IL-17.