Abstract: Objective To study if prototheca could influence the differentiation of mice Th17 cells and the secretion of Th17 associated cytokines.Methods Prototheca was cultured in vitro, and T lymphocytes were isolated from spleen of mice by nylon wool column, and cultured in vitro. Prototheca and T cells were co-cultured in transwell plate with a ratio of 1:5. Cells were culture for 2 h,4 h,8 h,12 h,24 h,48 h,and then T cells and supernatant were collected respectively, and the ratio of Th17 cell was analyzed with flow cytometry, and the level of IL-17 in the supernatant was detected with ELISA.Results From 2 h on, with the prolonged incubation time, the proportion of Th17 cells decreased gradually, and it became stable 8 h later (P<0.05); the level of IL-17 in the supernatant increased at earlier 2-8 h, and decreased from 8 h on, and it became stable 24 h later (P<0.05).Conclusion Being co-cultured with T cells, Prototheca could inhibit the differentiation of mice Th17 cells, but it could promote the secretion of IL-17 at the earlier 2-8 h.

Key words: prototheca, Th17, flow cytometry, cytokine