Background Recent recognition is that Th2 response is insufficient to fully explain the aetiology of asthma. Other CD4^＋ T cells subsets might play a role in asthma. We investigated the relative abundance and activit...Background Recent recognition is that Th2 response is insufficient to fully explain the aetiology of asthma. Other CD4^＋ T cells subsets might play a role in asthma. We investigated the relative abundance and activities of Thl, Th2, Th17 and CD4^＋CD25^＋ Treg cells in patients with allergic asthma. Methods Twenty-two patients with mild asthma, 17 patients with moderate to severe asthma and 20 healthy donors were enrolled. All patients were allergic to house dust mites. Plasma total IgE, pulmonary function and Asthma Control Questionnaire were assessed. The proportions of peripheral blood Thl, Th2, Th17 and CD4^＋CD25^＋ Treg cells were determined by flow cytometry. The expression of cytokines in plasma and Jn the culture supernatant of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was determined by enzyme linked, immunosorbent assay. Results The frequency of blood Th2 cells and IL-4 levels in plasma and culture supernatant of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were increased in all patients with allergic asthma. The frequency of Th17 cells and the plasma and culture supernatant levels of IL-17 were increased, whereas the frequency of CD4^＋CD25^＋ Treg cells and plasma IL-10 levels were decreased in patients with moderate to severe asthma. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus specific IgE levels were positively correlated with the percentage of blood Th2 cells and plasma IL-4 levels. Forced expiratory volume in the first second was negatively correlated with the frequency of Th17 cells and plasma IL-17 levels, and positively correlated with the frequency of Treg cells. However, mean Asthma Control Questionnaire scores were positively correlated with the frequency of Th17 cells and plasma IL-17 levels, and negatively correlated with the frequency of Treg cells. Conclusions Imbalances in Thl/Th2 and Th17/Treg were found in patients with allergic asthma. Furthermore, elevated Th17 cell responses, the absence of Tregs and an imbalance in Th17/Treg levels were associated with moderate to severe asthma.展开更多
Background Recent studies have shown that T helper type-2 （Th2） cells can induce the apoptosis of CD4＋CD25＋ Treg cells or resist the immunosuppressive effect of Treg cells. We hypothesize that an imbalance of Th2/...Background Recent studies have shown that T helper type-2 （Th2） cells can induce the apoptosis of CD4＋CD25＋ Treg cells or resist the immunosuppressive effect of Treg cells. We hypothesize that an imbalance of Th2/Treg is present in patients with allergic asthma. Methods Twenty-two patients with mild asthma, 17 patients with moderate to severe asthma, and 20 healthy donors were enrolled. All patients were allergic to house dust mites. The proportion of peripheral blood CD4＋CD25＋ Treg cells and Th2 cells were determined by flow cytometry. The concentration of interleukin （IL）-10, transforming growth factor （TGF） -βand tL-4 in plasma was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. In these subjects, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 17 mild asthmatic patients, 13 moderate to severe asthmatic patients and 14 healthy donors were acquired and expression of forkhead box P3 （Foxp3） and GATA-3 mRNA was detected by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Results Compared with healthy donors and patients with mild asthma, the percent of CD4＋CD25＋ Treg cells and plasma IL-10 levels were decreased in patients with moderate to severe asthma. There were no significant differences in Foxp3 mRNA expression among three groups, but a downward trend seen among patients with asthma. However, the percent of Th2 cells, IL-4 levels and expression of GATA-3 mRNA was markedly higher in patients with mild and moderate to severe asthma than in the control group. The ratio of Th2/Treg and their cytokines was increased in allergic asthma, especially for moderate to severe asthma. The ratio of GATA-3/Foxp3 mRNA was also increased in allergic asthma. In patients with moderate to severe asthma, the percentage of peripheral blood Treg cells was negatively correlated to the percentage of Th2 cells and IL-4 levels. Conclusions The decline of CD4＋CD25＋ Treg cells in patients with moderate to severe asthma may play an important role in progress of the disease. Furthermore, the deficiency of CD4＋CD25＋ Treg cells was associated with the overexpression of Th2 response.展开更多
文摘Background Recent recognition is that Th2 response is insufficient to fully explain the aetiology of asthma. Other CD4^＋ T cells subsets might play a role in asthma. We investigated the relative abundance and activities of Thl, Th2, Th17 and CD4^＋CD25^＋ Treg cells in patients with allergic asthma. Methods Twenty-two patients with mild asthma, 17 patients with moderate to severe asthma and 20 healthy donors were enrolled. All patients were allergic to house dust mites. Plasma total IgE, pulmonary function and Asthma Control Questionnaire were assessed. The proportions of peripheral blood Thl, Th2, Th17 and CD4^＋CD25^＋ Treg cells were determined by flow cytometry. The expression of cytokines in plasma and Jn the culture supernatant of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was determined by enzyme linked, immunosorbent assay. Results The frequency of blood Th2 cells and IL-4 levels in plasma and culture supernatant of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were increased in all patients with allergic asthma. The frequency of Th17 cells and the plasma and culture supernatant levels of IL-17 were increased, whereas the frequency of CD4^＋CD25^＋ Treg cells and plasma IL-10 levels were decreased in patients with moderate to severe asthma. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus specific IgE levels were positively correlated with the percentage of blood Th2 cells and plasma IL-4 levels. Forced expiratory volume in the first second was negatively correlated with the frequency of Th17 cells and plasma IL-17 levels, and positively correlated with the frequency of Treg cells. However, mean Asthma Control Questionnaire scores were positively correlated with the frequency of Th17 cells and plasma IL-17 levels, and negatively correlated with the frequency of Treg cells. Conclusions Imbalances in Thl/Th2 and Th17/Treg were found in patients with allergic asthma. Furthermore, elevated Th17 cell responses, the absence of Tregs and an imbalance in Th17/Treg levels were associated with moderate to severe asthma.
文摘Background Recent studies have shown that T helper type-2 （Th2） cells can induce the apoptosis of CD4＋CD25＋ Treg cells or resist the immunosuppressive effect of Treg cells. We hypothesize that an imbalance of Th2/Treg is present in patients with allergic asthma. Methods Twenty-two patients with mild asthma, 17 patients with moderate to severe asthma, and 20 healthy donors were enrolled. All patients were allergic to house dust mites. The proportion of peripheral blood CD4＋CD25＋ Treg cells and Th2 cells were determined by flow cytometry. The concentration of interleukin （IL）-10, transforming growth factor （TGF） -βand tL-4 in plasma was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. In these subjects, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 17 mild asthmatic patients, 13 moderate to severe asthmatic patients and 14 healthy donors were acquired and expression of forkhead box P3 （Foxp3） and GATA-3 mRNA was detected by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Results Compared with healthy donors and patients with mild asthma, the percent of CD4＋CD25＋ Treg cells and plasma IL-10 levels were decreased in patients with moderate to severe asthma. There were no significant differences in Foxp3 mRNA expression among three groups, but a downward trend seen among patients with asthma. However, the percent of Th2 cells, IL-4 levels and expression of GATA-3 mRNA was markedly higher in patients with mild and moderate to severe asthma than in the control group. The ratio of Th2/Treg and their cytokines was increased in allergic asthma, especially for moderate to severe asthma. The ratio of GATA-3/Foxp3 mRNA was also increased in allergic asthma. In patients with moderate to severe asthma, the percentage of peripheral blood Treg cells was negatively correlated to the percentage of Th2 cells and IL-4 levels. Conclusions The decline of CD4＋CD25＋ Treg cells in patients with moderate to severe asthma may play an important role in progress of the disease. Furthermore, the deficiency of CD4＋CD25＋ Treg cells was associated with the overexpression of Th2 response.
