Th17 expression and IL-17 levels in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients

ABSTRACT

Conclusion The Th17 cell frequency in peripheral blood and levels of IL-17 showed significant differences between patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and those with vocal cords polyps. Serum levels of IL-17 were correlated with laryngocarcinoma staging. Objectives To investigate associations among the frequency of Th17 cells, levels of IL-17, and laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Method Eighty in-patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and 114 in-patients with polypus of the vocal cord were enrolled. Th17 cell frequencies in peripheral blood and serum levels of IL-17 were measured by flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The tissue expression levels of IL-17 mRNA transcripts and protein were measured using quantitative RT-PCR or immunohistochemical detection, respectively. Results Th17 cell frequencies in peripheral blood and serum concentrations of IL-17 were significantly higher in patients with laryngocarcinoma compared with those in patients with polyps (p < 0.01 for both Th17 cells and IL-17 levels). Serum concentrations of IL-17 were significantly higher in patients with advanced laryngocarcinoma than in patients with early laryngocarcinoma (p < 0.01). The mRNA and protein levels of IL-17 were significantly higher in laryngocarcinoma tissues than in adjacent normal tissues (p < 0.01 for mRNA levels, p < 0.05 for protein levels).

Keywords:

• Prognosis
• head and neck cancers
• interleukin-17
• T-helper 17 cells
• immunity and tumorigenesis

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (grant no. LY12H13003) and the Medicine and Health Foundation of the Health Bureau of Zhejiang Province (grant no. 2012KYA098 and 2010KYA104).

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.