Interleukin-17 as a marker of progression of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

The Th17 system (type 17 T helper cells) plays a huge role in the pathogenesis of COPD inflammation. <bold>Objective:</bold> Assess the diagnostic value of Interleukin 17 as a marker of COPD progression. Material and methods. In 116 patients with COPD, the levels of IL-17 and its correlation with vitamin D, interleukins 1β, 10 and TGF 1β, antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and tissue antigens (LAT - pulmonary antibodies) were determined. Results: Increased levels of IL-17 were observed in 33.6% of patients with COPD. With the emphysematous phenotype, increased IL-17 was observed in 48.1%, with the bronchitis phenotype in 28.6%, and mixed in 37.5% of cases. If at stage 3 there was an increase in this indicator in 34.7% of patients, then at stage 4 in 44.4% of cases. The data from smoking and non-smoking patients did not differ much from each other and amounted to 31.3%/30.3%, respectively. The presence of correlations of very weak strength between IL-17 and IL-1 (r=0.29018684), TNF-α (r=0.059153749), IL-10 (r=0.1999174) and negative very weak strength was also noted with LAT, ANA and TGF 1β in smoking patients. In non-smoking patients, there is a weak positive correlation between IL-17 and TNF-α (r = 0.364977429), LAT (r = 0.272712057), ANA (r = 0.248422492) and a weak negative correlation with IL-1β (r =-0.33269314). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> 33.6% of patients with COPD have elevated levels of IL-17 in the blood. An intense IL-17 response possibly contributes to the progression of COPD and initiates autoimmune inflammation. Its study may allow not only to more accurately predict the course of COPD, but also to select individualized therapy.