Interleukin 17F expression and effect in human corneal epithelial cells

• Main Author: Yang, Bennie Neng Jie
• Other Authors: School of Biological Sciences
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2008
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science::Biological sciences
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/13571
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Interleukin (IL)-17F, a relatively less studied cytokine traditionally known to be produced by leukocytes, is involved in neutrophil recruitment during inflammation. Previous unpublished data suggest that IL-17F is expressed in human corneal epithelial cells (HCE) and differentially regulated in transglutaminase(TGM)-2 over-expressing cells. This study aimed to confirm the expression of IL-17F in HCE-T cells, investigate the expression of different regions of IL-17F with respect to different TGM-2 expression status and investigate the effects of IL-17F on HCE-T cells. The expression of IL-17F was confirmed with Western blot and immunofluorescent staining, a novel finding in an epithelial cell type. Reverse transcription PCR, using specific primers to IL-17F, was performed and PCR products were sequenced to confirm their identity. PCR was also used to confirm over-expression and silencing of TGM-2. The results suggest that two types of IL-17F transcripts from different exons exist and their relative abundance can be regulated by TGM-2. Exogenous IL-17F treatment did not affect HCE-T cell proliferation rate and morphology. MMP9 expression was increased and MCP1 levels were decreased after IL-17F treatment, without alteration of TIMP-1 or TGFβ1 transcripts.