Inhaled corticosteroid use is associated with increased circulating T regulatory cells in children with asthma.
BACKGROUND
T regulatory (Treg) cells are important in balancing immune responses and dysregulation of Treg cells has been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple disease states including asthma. In this study, our primary aim was to determine Treg cell frequency in the peripheral blood of children with and without asthma. The secondary aim was to explore the association between Treg cell frequency with allergen sensitization, disease severity and medication use.


METHODS
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy control subjects (N = 93) and asthmatic children of varying disease severity (N = 66) were characterized by multi-parameter flow cytometry.


RESULTS
Our findings demonstrate that children with asthma had a significantly increased frequency of Treg cells compared to children without asthma. Using a multivariate model, increased Treg cell frequency in children with asthma was most directly associated with inhaled corticosteroid use, and not asthma severity, allergic sensitization, or atopic status of the asthma.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that low dose, local airway administration of corticosteroids is sufficient to impact the frequency of Treg cells in the peripheral blood. These data highlight the importance of considering medication exposure when studying Treg cells and suggest inhaled corticosteroid use in asthmatics may improve disease control through increased Treg cell frequency.
Departments of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin, 1111 Highland Avenue, 4139 WIMR, Madison, WI 53705-2275, USA. cmseroogy@wisc.edu.
Anne Marie
AM
Singh
Paul
P
Dahlberg
Kristjan
K
Burmeister
Michael D
MD
Evans
Ronald
R
Gangnon
Kathy A
KA
Roberg
Christopher
C
Tisler
Douglas
D
Dasilva
Tressa
T
Pappas
Lisa
L
Salazar
Robert F
RF
Lemanske
James E
JE
Gern
Christine M
CM
Seroogy