Association between the Proinflammatory Cytokine IL-17F and Helicobacter Pylori Infection in a Sample of Iraqi Patients

Background: Infection of the gastric mucosa with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is characterized by the induction of a number of proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-8, IL-6, and TNF-α, involved in Hp-related gastric inflammation. The functions of members of the IL-17 cytokine family, other than IL-17A, in Hp infection remain understudied. The aim of our study was to assess the association between the proinflammatory cytokine IL-17F and Hp infection in a sample of Iraqi patients. Methods and Results: This study included 50 Iraqi patients (18 males and 32 females; a mean age of 36±1.74 years) infected with Hp. The healthy control group consisted of 16 subjects (3 males and 13 females), with a mean age of 31±2.44 years. For the qualitative detection of antibodies (IgG, IgM, and IgA) against Hp in the serum, we used the OnSite H. pylori Ab Combo Rapid Test (CTK Biotech). ELISA was used to detect levels of human IL-17F in serum using ABTS ELISA Development Kit (Pepro Tech, USA). The serum level of IL-17F in patients with Hp infection was significantly higher than in the control group (238.9±7.64 pg/mL vs. 114.00±3.66 pg/mL, P=0.0001). However, the serum level of IL-17F in Hp patients was not significantly different between men and women (237±12.12 pg/mL and 239±9.94 pg/mL, respectively, P=0.9015). In addition, no significant difference was found between age subgroups: 240±13.18 pg/mL, 231±10.17 pg/mL, and 252±18.35 pg/mL in age subgroups of <30 years, 30-45 years, and >45 years, respectively, (P>0.05). Conclusion: Patients infected with Hp were characterized by higher serum levels of IL-17F than non-Hp subjects. IL-17F plays an important role in the inflammatory response to Hp infection in a sample of Iraqi patients.