摘要：
Interleukin 17 is a family of cytokines consisted of IL 17A, IL 17B, IL 17C, IL 17D, IL 17E and IL 17F. IL 17 has been designated IL 17A, which secreted exclusively by activated T cells. Currently, the cognate receptors for the IL 17 family identified thus far are: IL 17R, IL 17RH1, IL 17RL (receptor like) , IL 17RD and IL 17RE. Therefore, these different members of the family are characteristic of various biological functions. IL 17A is an important cytokine that induces inflamma tory responses through the organized production of inflammatory cytokines and induces neutrophil migration. And IL 17B may be related with digestive function of the body. Directly or indirectly, IL 17C participates in the process of immune response and inflammation reaction, and is able to promote mononuclear cells to secrete more cytokines, like TNF a, IL 1(3. IL 17D is ex pressed in skeletal muscle, lung, adipose tissue, heart, pancreas and brain. In colony formation assays, rIL 17D has an inhibi tory effect on hemopoiesis of myeloid progenitor cells. As the newest member of the IL 17 cytokine family, IL 17E is the most distant from IL 17A. IL 17E can initiate, promote and augment Th2 cell mediated immune responses, herein playing a pivotal role in allergic disease and defense against parasites. The similar characteristics between IL 17F and IL 17A contribute to the higher amino acid sequence homology, 44%. Therefore, the biological characteristics of IL 17 family are extremely complicat ed, such as inducing neutrophil migration, initiating and promoting inflammation reactions, augmenting the production of cyto kines, and hematopoiesis. As potentially dangerous pathogens, parasitic diseases seriously threaten public health and social se curity. Recent studies have shown that IL 17 family, especially IL 17A, may maintain the close relationships with invasiveness and pathogenicity of parasites, and play a key role in the biological functions that hosts defense against parasitic infection. In a proinflammatory cytokine environment, like IL 17, the infection with Schistosoma mansoni leads to hepatic egg induced granu lomatous inflammation. Interestingly, Trichinella spiralis larva intestinal invasion can induce the production of Th2 and Thl7 cell related cytokines while higher IL 17 is associated with lower incidence of malaria. In the absence of IL 17A, the efficient activation of immune related cells critical for the killing of Trypanosoma cruzi was impaired, leading to the greater susceptibilityrnof the mice to T. cruzi infection. Consequently, we can consider that IL 17A is crucial in the resolution of T. cruzi infection. However, the regulatory mechanisms are still un clear. So the researches that lucubrate the relation between IL 17 family and parasitic infections are vital and significant on de velopment of new type vaccines and on prevention of parasites.%白细胞介素17(Interleukin 17,IL-17)是一种多家族成员的细胞因子,包括IL-17A～F,受体有5种(IL-17RA～IL-17RE).与IL-1、TNF-α信号传导途径类似,IL-17受RORγt调节,能激活NF-κB、MAP激酶和ERK1/2等信号分子,发挥其生物学功能.IL-17家族具有强大的致炎作用,能促进中性粒细胞增多且向局部组织浸润;可促进多细胞因子释放,积极参与机体体液免疫和细胞免疫,以及造血作用和家族成员间协同作用.IL-17虽在适应型免疫反应过程中产生,但其经典功能却主要在固有免疫调节反应中发挥,且与寄生虫对宿主的侵袭和致病关系紧密,在宿主抗寄生虫感染过程中起重要作用.因此,本文就IL-17及其在寄生虫学上的研究做一综述.
