At the bile ductal obstructive phase, Th17 increased dramatically in the liver and was the main source of IL-17A.

<p><b>(A)</b> Histopathological changes of the bile duct in RRV and saline groups on day 7 post infection. Antibodies to CD4 (Green) and IL-17A (Red) were added to distinguish CD4+ cells and IL-17A+ cells. Antibodies to Cytokine 7 (Khaki) indicate the bile duct lumen. Nucleus were stained by DAPI (Blue). The bile duct lumen was narrowed with a disrupted epithelium lining in BA mice. CD4⁺IL-17A⁺ T cells (Yellow, arrow indicate) together with other immunocytes infiltrated into the bile duct areas in BA mice. The magnification is x200. Representative of 4 experiments. * <i>P</i><0.05. <b>(B)</b> Representative flow cytometry (FCM) diagrams of MNC in the liver of mice injected with saline or RRV. Th17 frequency is shown as a percentage of IL-17A+ T cells in liver CD4+ T cells. Leukocytes were purified using a Percoll gradient and cells were stained for CD4 and IL-17A, <i>P</i> = 0.001. <b>(C)</b> Representative western blots of IL-17A and ROR-γt in the saline and RRV group, GAPDH was used as the control. For IL-17A, <i>P</i> = 0.013, n = 3; for ROR-γt, <i>P</i> = 0.016, n = 3.