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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 28, 2014; 20(8): 2062-2070
Published online Feb 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i8.2062
Published online Feb 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i8.2062
Impaired balance of T helper 17/T regulatory cells in carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in mice
Xiao-Fei Sun, Lei Gu, Wen-Sheng Deng, Qing Xu, Department of General Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200127, China
Author contributions: Sun XF and Deng WS performed the majority of experiments and wrote the manuscript; Gu L provided vital reagents and analytical tools and revised the manuscript; Xu Q designed the study and provided financial support for this work.
Supported by Grants for Scientific Research Innovation Project of Shanghai Education Committee, China, No. 13yz040
Correspondence to: Qing Xu, PhD, Department of General Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, No. 160, Pujian Road, Shanghai 200127, China. surgeonxq@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-21-68383732 Fax: +86-21-68383732
Received: September 8, 2013
Revised: November 1, 2013
Accepted: November 18, 2013
Published online: February 28, 2014
Revised: November 1, 2013
Accepted: November 18, 2013
Published online: February 28, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: It has been reported that T helper (Th) 17/T regulatory (Treg) cell imbalance is closely related to many autoimmune diseases. The role of Th17/Treg imbalance in liver fibrosis has seldom been reported. Our study focused on the change in Th17/Treg balance in a liver fibrosis model in mice, and explored the possible mechanism through which the development of fibrosis is regulated. The frequency of Th17 cells increased, while the frequency of Treg cells decreased in liver fibrosis. These changes promote the occurrence of liver fibrosis via hepatic stellate cell activation.