title: T helper 17 cells and regulatory T-cell imbalance in paediatric patients with asthma.
abstract: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the lung, which is thought to be determined by the balance between the T helper (Th)2 and Th1 responses. This study evaluated whether the balance between Th17 cells and regulatory T cells (T(reg)) was impaired in asthma patients.  The proportion of peripheral blood Th17 cells of the total CD4(+) cell population in asthma patients was significantly higher than in controls (mean ± SD 0.72 ± 0.5% versus 0.31 ± 0.4%, respectively). The proportion of peripheral T(reg) cells in asthma  patients was significantly lower than in controls (mean ± SD 12.1 ± 4.6% versus 27.2 ± 7.5%, respectively). Analysis of mRNA generally confirmed the flow cytometry data, suggesting that the changes in cytokine levels were mediated at the transcription level. In paediatric  asthma patients, the CD4(+) T-cell phenotype was skewed toward the Th17 phenotype, suggesting that a Th17/T(reg) functional imbalance plays a role in asthma.
authors: Department of Paediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shengyang, China.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Wei
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Zhang
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Li
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Li
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Shang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D020381:Interleukin-17; D012333:RNA, Messenger