Objective    To investigate the relationship between oxidative stress and secretion of interleukin-17 (IL-17) from T cells

and to study the effect of IL-17 on pathogenesis of Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO).     Methods    Venous blood from 15 healthy persons and 25 patients newly diagnosed with GO was collected to prepare serum s

pecimens

and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA)

superoxide dismutase (SOD)

and IL-17 in the serum specimens were analyzed. Venous blood from 10 of the healthy persons and 10 of the GO patients was additionally collected to prepare T-cell specimens. Each of the T-cell specimens was divided into a blank group [H

2

O

2

0

vitamin C (VitC)=0

]

an H

2

O

2

treatment group (H

2

O

2

=1 μmol/L

VitC=0)

a VitC treatment group (H

2

O

2

=0

VitC=25 μmol/L)

and an H

2

O

2

+VitC treatment group (H

2

O

2

=1 μmol/L

VitC=25 μmol/L). The T-cell specimens were cultured in vitro

and the IL-17 level of each group was tested.     Results    The levels of MDA and IL-17 in the serum specimens from the GO patients were significantly higher than those in the serum specimens from the healthy persons (6.77±1.11 nmol/mL and 13.62±2.43 ng/L vs 4.16±0.61 nmol/ml and 10.15±0.93 ng/L

P0.05). The SOD level and SOD/MDA ratio of the serum specimens from the GO patients were significantly lower than those of the serum specimens from the healthy persons (53.95±17.53 U/ml and 7.9±3.5 vs 73.16±15.33 U/ml and 18.1±5.2

P0.05). The IL-17 level and MDA level of the serum specimens from the GO patients were in significantly positive correlation (r=0.527

P0.01). In the GO patients

the IL-17 level of the H

2

O

2

treatment group was significantly higher than those of the blank group

VitC treatment group

and H

2

O

2

+VitC treatment group (27.55±4.75 ng/L vs 20.24±2.13 ng/L

18.76±1.13 ng/L

and 17.59±1.85 ng/L

P0.05)

and the IL-17 levels of the VitC treatment group and H

2

O

2

+VitC treatment group were significantly lower than that of the blank group (18.76±1.13 and 17.59±1.85 vs 20.24±2.13

P0.05). No significant differences were found in IL-17 levels of the groups from healthy persons (P0.05).     Conclusion    Oxidative stress can induce IL-17 secretion from T cells of patients wi

th Graves’ ophthalmopathy. Antioxidant VitC can inhibit the secretion to a certain degree.