Effects of pollen and nasal glucocorticoid on FOXP3+, GATA-3+ and T-bet+ cells in allergic rhinitis.
BACKGROUND
T-regulatory cells (Treg) affect the balance of T(H)2 and T(H)1 cells. Treg, T(H)2 and T(H)1 cells are regulated by the FOXP3, GATA-3 and T-bet transcription factors respectively. Our aim was to determine the number of FOXP3(+), GATA-3(+) and T-bet(+) cells in nasal mucosa in symptom-free allergic rhinitis (AR) patients vs healthy controls, as well as the effects of natural pollen exposure and concomitant nasal glucocorticoid treatment on these cells.


METHODS
Nasal biopsies were taken from healthy controls and patients with grass-pollen AR preseason. The AR patients were randomized to receive treatment with either fluticasone propionate (FP) or a placebo, and additional biopsies were taken during the pollen season. FOXP3(+), GATA-3(+) and T-bet(+) cells in nasal mucosa were quantified by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
The number of FOXP3(+) and GATA-3(+) cells, but not T-bet(+) cells, was significantly higher in AR patients vs controls preseason. The number of FOXP3(+) cells remained unchanged in the former group after the pollen season but decreased significantly in the nasal mucosa as a result of FP treatment. The pollen season substantially increased the number of GATA-3(+) cells, which was inhibited by FP. The number of T-bet(+) cells was not affected by pollen or FP.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that nasal glucocorticoids attenuate the allergic inflammation partly by reducing the number of T(H)2 cells, but not by means of local upregulation of Treg cells. The local relationship between T(H)1 and T(H)2 cells as well as between Treg and T(H)2 is maintained by nasal glucocorticoid treatment.
Lung Pharmacology Group, Department of Internal Medicine/Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Malmhäll
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Bossios
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Pullerits
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Lötvall
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D000068298:Fluticasone; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology; D050485:GABA Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D006109:Poaceae / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor
D000485:Allergens; D000730:Androstadienes; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D050485:GABA Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D005938:Glucocorticoids; C493416:SLC6A11 protein, human; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor; D000068298:Fluticasone