title: Allergen induced Treg response in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with nasal polyposis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nasal polyposis (NP) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the nasal cavity and sinuses regulated by T cells. Regulatory T (Treg) cells are involved in controlling immune responses and inhibiting the allergen-specific effector cell response. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether NP patients had defects in Treg cells after specific allergen exposure and the possible correlation between atopy and Treg cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), isolated from NP patients and controls, were cultured with allergen+phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or PHA stimulation for 48h. The frequency of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ cells was measured by flow cytometry. The level of Foxp3 was measured by Real-time PCR. Concentrations of Interferon-γ (IFN-γ), Interleukin-4 (IL-4), Interleukin-5 (IL-5), Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in culture supernatants were determined by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both atopic and non-atopic NP patients had a significantly decreased frequency of Treg cells and Foxp3 level in allergen stimulated PBMCs, also significantly decreased TGF-β level in culture supernatants. The decrease was even more striking in the atopic group. Also, there were significantly negative correlations between Treg cells and IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-5. Moreover, inthe atopic group, allergen stimulation downregulated Treg cells and increased IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-5 levels, while upregulating Treg cells and decreasing IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-5 levels in controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with NP have a defective Treg cell response after allergen stimulation which is related to excessive Th1 and Th2 responses to specific allergens. Atopy may increase the impairment of Treg and exacerbate NP through the defective suppression of Treg on Th1 and Th2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Guo-Hua
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Hou-Yong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Xin-Ye
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Su-Ling
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000276:immunology*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000276:immunology; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012882:Skin Tests; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D016207:Cytokines; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins