Association Between IL-17 and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Ru Ma,1– 3 Hongling Su,1– 3 Keping Jiao,1– 3 Jian Liu1,2 1The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Lanzhou University, Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Gansu Provincial People’s Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jian Liu, Department of Clinical Medicine, the First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, No. 1, Donggang West Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, People’s Republic of China, Tel [phone], Email [email protected]: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by neutrophils airway infiltration. It is currently known that Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is an important pro-inflammatory factor. It can promote the accumulation of neutrophils and participate in the chronic inflammatory process of COPD. However, the value of IL-17 levels in the diagnosis and assessment of COPD remains controversial. In view of this, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess its relevance.Methods: We searched databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Embase to extract original research.Results: A total of 10 studies with 2268 participants were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that the level of serum IL-17 in patients with stable COPD was significantly higher than that in healthy controls (standard mean difference SMD, 1.59, 95% CI 0.84– 2.34; p< 0.001). Compared with the stable COPD group, the serum IL-17 level in acute exacerbation (AECOPD) was significantly higher (SMD, 1.78, 95% CI 1.22– 2.33; p< 0.001). The level of IL-17 in sputum of COPD patients was also higher than that of healthy controls (SMD, 2.03, 95% CI 0.74– 3.31; p< 0.001).Conclusion: Our results showed that IL-17 levels were elevated in serum and sputum in COPD patients compared with healthy controls, and IL-17 levels increased with disease progression. IL-17 serves as a potential biomarker to indicate the persistence of neutrophilic inflammation and exacerbation of COPD.Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Interleukin-17, proinflammatory factor, meta-analysis

Keywords

• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;interleukin-17;proinflammtory factor;meta-analysis