title: Peripheral T(h)1/T(h)2/T(h)17/regulatory T-cell balance in asthmatic pregnancy.
abstract: Asthma is a common chronic disease that may complicate pregnancy and a risk factor for complications; however, immunological mechanisms of the bilateral interactions between asthma and pregnancy are not fully understood. Healthy gestation is characterized by a sensitive balance of T(h)1/T(h)2/T(h)17/regulatory T (Treg) cells that may be altered in asthmatic pregnancy. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of these cell subsets in asthmatic compared with healthy pregnancy. The prevalence of T(h)1, T(h)2, T(h)17 and Treg lymphocytes was identified by cell surface and intracellular marker staining in blood samples of 24 healthy non-pregnant (HNP), 23 healthy pregnant (HP), 15 asthmatic non-pregnant (ANP) and 15 asthmatic pregnant (AP) women using flow cytometry. The T(h)1/T(h)2 cell ratio was decreased in both HP and ANP compared with HNP women; however, no further decrease was observed in the AP group. The T(h)17/Treg ratio was decreased in HP, but not in AP women, compared with HNP data. Healthy pregnancy increased Treg cell prevalence compared with HNP data (4.64% versus 2.98%; P < 0.05), and this pregnancy-induced elevation was absent in AP women (2.52% versus 4.64%; P < 0.05). T(h)17 cell prevalence was similar in the HP and HNP groups (2.78% versus 3.17%; P > 0.05). Asthma increased T(h)17 prevalence in non-pregnant patients (3.81% versus 3.17%; P < 0.05), and this asthma-specific increase of T(h)17 cell prevalence was also observed in AP patients (AP versus HP: 3.44% versus 2.78%; P < 0.05). The abnormal asthma-dependent T(h)17 elevation together with blunted Treg increase may play a role in the compromised immune tolerance characterizing asthmatic pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University, H-1085 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Gergely
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Toldi
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molvarec
authors.forename: Balázs
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stenczer
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Noémi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Eszes
authors.forename: Anikó
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bohács
authors.forename: András
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bikov
authors.forename: János
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rigó
authors.forename: Barna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vásárhelyi
authors.forename: György
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Losonczy
authors.forename: Lilla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tamási
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17