title: Interplay of T Helper 17 Cells with CD4(+)CD25(high) FOXP3(+) Tregs in Regulation of Allergic Asthma in Pediatric Patients.
abstract: Background. There is evidence that Tregs are important to prevent allergic diseases like asthma but limited literature exists on role of TH17 cells in allergic diseases. Methods. Fifty children with asthma and respiratory allergy (study group) and twenty healthy children (control group) were recruited in this study. Total IgE levels and pulmonary function tests were assessed. The expression of Tregs and cytokines was determined by flow cytometry. Results. The average level of total IgE in study group (316.8 ± 189.8 IU/mL) was significantly higher than controls (50 ± 17.5 IU/mL, P < 0.0001). The frequency of TH17 cells and culture supernatant level of IL-17 in study group (12.09 ± 8.67 pg/mL) was significantly higher than control group (2.01 ± 1.27 pg/mL, P < 0.001). Alternatively, the frequency of FOXP3 level was significantly lower in study group [(49.00 ± 13.47)%] than in control group [(95.91 ± 2.63)%] and CD4(+)CD25(+)FOXP3(+) to CD4(+)CD25(+) ratio was also significantly decreased in study group [(6.33 ± 2.18)%] compared to control group [(38.61 ± 11.04)%]. The total serum IgE level is negatively correlated with FOXP3 level (r = -0.5273, P < 0.0001). The FOXP3 expression is negatively correlated with the IL-17 levels (r = -0.5631, P < 0.0001) and IL-4 levels (r = -0.2836, P = 0.0460). Conclusions. Imbalance in TH17/Tregs, elevated IL-17, and IL-4 response and downregulation of FOXP3 were associated with allergic asthma.
authors.affiliation: Advanced Pediatric Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector 12, Chandigarh 160012, India.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7136-8206
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.affiliation: Advanced Pediatric Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector 12, Chandigarh 160012, India.
authors.forename: Meenu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Science, West Bengal University of Technology, Kolkata 700064, India.
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
authors.affiliation: Advanced Pediatric Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector 12, Chandigarh 160012, India.
authors.forename: Anil
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8853-7317
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India.
authors.forename: Anuradha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chakraborti