title: [CD4+CD25+CD127low (Treg) cell numbers in patients with allergic rhinitis with and without immunotherapy].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergic rhinitis and asthma are the most common chronic inflammatory diseases affecting the respiratory tract. A subgroup of regulatory T cells, CD4+CD25+, participates in the control of allergic diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine if there is a difference in the number of peripheral blood regulatory T cells, identified as CD4+CD25+CD127low, of patients with rhinitis compared to healthy controls; if there is correlation of the number of these cells with other manifestations of the disease and if that number changes in the same individual after immunotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 37 patients with allergic rhinitis CD4+CD25+CD127low T cells were quantified by flow cytometry, percentages of eosinophils in blood and nasal secretions were determined in smear, total serum IgE concentrations were measured by ELISA and serum PCR concentrations using a immunoturbidimetric assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline the percentage of CD4+CD25+CD127low T cells was higher in patients than in controls (8.031 ± 1.507 vs. 7.316 ± 1.309, p = 0.03). After a year of immunotherapy, the number of regulatory T cells did not show any significant difference respect to the initial value (7.39 ± 1.43 vs. 7.36 ± 1.22; p = 0.9387). The number of regulatory T cells after a year of immunotherapy showed correlation with the eosinophils percentage in nasal secretion (r = 0.7178, p = 0.0234).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of regulatory T cells in allergic rhinitis is increased probably due to induced generation in response to the chronic inflammation of the nasal mucosa.
authors.affiliation: JosÈ Guardado 748 (CP 5016) B∫ Villa San Isidro, Ciudad de CÛrdoba, Provincia de CÛrdoba - Argentina. cristinacosta68@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Del-Valle-Acosta
authors.forename: Cecilia María
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Menso-de Ezcurra
authors.forename: Nelly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Barrera
authors.forename: Calì
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nicolás
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferrero
mesh_terms: D002452:Cell Count; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
chemical_list: D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit