The decreased CD4+CD25+ FoxP3+ T cells in nonstimulated allergic rhinitis patients sensitized to house dust mites.
OBJECTIVE
Regulatory (CD4(+)CD25(+)) T cells have been shown to play an important role in the development of allergic diseases. This study aims to investigate CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells, Forkhead box P3 (FoxP3(+) cells), and T-helper 1/T-helper 2 (Th1/Th2) cytokines in newly diagnosed allergic rhinitis (AR) patients.


METHODS
Altogether, 10 subjects with AR and 12 age-matched nonallergic healthy subjects were included in this study. CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells, FoxP3(+) T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were evaluated by flow cytometry, and the Th1/Th2 cytokine levels were determined by cytometric bead array immunoassay in both PBMC supernatants and nasal lavage fluids.


RESULTS
The percentage of CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells were significantly higher, whereas the percentage of FoxP3(+) cells were lower in AR patients compared with healthy subjects. In PBMC culture supernatants, interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels were significantly lower (p = .012), whereas IL-4, IL-5, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in nasal lavage fluids were higher in AR patients compared with healthy subjects (p = .026, p = .015, p = .03, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate that decrease in CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) T cell fraction and diminished levels of IL-10 are noteworthy without allergen stimulation in house dust mite AR patients.
Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Sema
S
Genc
Hacer
H
Eroglu
Umut Can
UC
Kucuksezer
Esin
E
Aktas-Cetin
Asli
A
Gelincik
Esra
E
Ustyol-Aycan
Suna
S
Buyukozturk
Gunnur
G
Deniz
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology; D060829:Arthropod Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology*; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; C559662:Derp2 allergen, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C508017:IL2RA protein, human; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C451162:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen p 1