title: [Levels of CD4+ and FOXP3+ lymphocytes in patients with allergic rhinitis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergic rinitis is the more common allergic disease, affecting to 25% of general population. Otitis media, sinusitis and other complications result from not controlled allergic rinitis. It has been reported that a low expression of FOXP3 marker on lymphocytes is associated with allergic diseases, and that allergen immunotherapy increases its synthesis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare CD4+ FOXP3+ T cell levels in patients with allergic rhinitis, with and without allergen immunotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional, observational and comparative study were included adult patients with allergic rinitis in two groups: one group with 29 patients under allergen immunotherapy for six months, and other group with 30 patients without immunotherapy. Lymphocyte markers CD3, CD4, CD8 y FOXP3 were determined in both groups, as well as serum immunoglobulins.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the group treated with immunotherapy the mean age was 36.4 years, and 72% of them were women. In the other group the age average was 40.4 years and 63% were women. There were no significant differences in immunoglobulin levels among both groups; IgG4 had higher levels, but not significant, in the immunotherapy group (82.1 vs 72.4 mg/dL, p=0.67). Patients from the group without immunotherapy had higher number of FOXP3+ lymphocytes, but not significant (8.2 vs 7.9, p=0.57).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients treated with allergen immunotherapy had lower FOXP3+ lymphocytes number than those not treated. More studies are needed for considering FOXP3+ lymphocyte molecule as a useful marker in the follow-up of patients under immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Centro MÈdico Nacional 20 de Noviembre, ISSSTE, MÈxico D.F.
authors.forename: Érika
authors.initials: É
authors.lastname: Coria-Ramírez
authors.forename: María Eugenia
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Vargas-Camaño
authors.forename: Ricardo Leopoldo
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Guido-Bayardo
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: García-Castillo
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zepeda-García
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mèndez-Medina
authors.forename: María Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Castrejón-Vázquez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors