Background and Aims: Natural killer T (NKT) cells have been suggested to play critical roles in a wide range of immune responses especially against hepatotropic pathogens such as hepatitis C virus (HCV). In  the  present  study,  we  investigated  the  status  of  NKT  cells  by producing interleukin-17 cytokine in  peripheral  blood. 

Patients and Methods: As case-control study, 15 patients with chronic HCV infection and healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. We was determined the serum and peripheral blood IL-17 levels after activating by based on Galactosylceramid and IL-2 then the IL-17 level was measured by Enzyme-linked immunisorbentassey (ELISA) methods.

Results: Plasma level of IL-17 in patients with chronic infection did not differ compared to the control group (5.5±2.4 vs. 6.2±1.2 pg/ml p=0.5). The level of supernatant IL-17 was significantly increased in both Galactosylceramid-IL-2-stimulated PBMCs than control group that ratio IL-17 after 72 h was higher than other times. The plasma level of IL-17 in HCV 3a-infected patients was higher than 1a-type patients that this difference was not significant (6±2.5 vs. 4.8±2.5 p=0.45).

Conclusion: As the recent data, the roles of NKT cells in human liver injury and fibrosis remain unknown. However, the precise role of NKT cells in HCV patients as this play a role in innate immune responses in the liver in higher samples was performed.