title: [Imbalance of Thl7/Treg cell ratio in peripheral blood of patients with nasal polyposis and its clinical significance].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the distribution of Thl7 cells and Foxp3 CD4 * CD25 regulatory T cells in peripheral blood of patients with nasal polyposis(NP) and their correlation with clinical patients' condition, and to explore the role of Thl7/Treg cell ratio imbalance in pathogenesis of nasal polyposis and significance.
  
  
  METHODS
  The frequencies of Thl7 cells and Treg cells were determined in 46 patients with NP and 10 controls by flow cytometry. The 46 patients were divided into two groups according to endoscopy score and CT score: the 1 group (endoscopy score: 2-8 scores; CT score: 3 -10 scores, n = 23) and the 2 group (endoscopy score: 8 -12 scores; CT score: 10 -19 scores, n = 23).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thl7 cells were significantly higher in the blood of patients with NP compared with the control group (P<0.01), and the percentage was higher in the 2 group than the 1 group (P<0.05). The frequency of Treg cells was significantly decreased in patients with NP compared to the control group (P < 0. 01), whereas the difference between two groups was not significant. The ratio of Thl7/Treg cells was highest in the 2 group (P < 0.01), lower in the 1 group (P<0.01) and lowest in control subjects, and the differences were also significant between two groups (P<0.05). Furthermore, it was confirmed that the ratio of Thl7/Treg positively correlated with endoscopy score and CT score (P <. 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The imbalance of Thl7/Treg cell ratio characterized by increased Thl7 cells and decreased Treg cells exists in peripheral blood of NP patients and may play an important role in the onset and development of NP. The degree of Thl7/Treg cell imbalance may associate with clinical presentation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China. sy_smile@sina.cn
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Su-ling
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Guo-hua
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: HU
authors.forename: Xin-ye
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kou
authors.forename: Chang-kai
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Pan