title: Immune imbalance of regulatory T/type 2 helper cells in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the role of regulatory T/type 2 helper cell-mediated immune imbalance in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis and examine the association between clinical severity and regulatory T/type 2 helper cell-mediated immune imbalance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Levels of interleukins 4 and 5 and transforming growth factor β1, and expression of FOXP3 and GATA3 (which are functionally related to regulatory T and type 2 helper cells, respectively), were evaluated in 46 allergic rhinitis patients and 42 healthy subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to controls, allergic rhinitis patients showed significantly higher interleukin 4 and 5 levels, but lower transforming growth factor β1 levels. Furthermore, FOXP3 messenger RNA expression was lower in allergic rhinitis patients, while GATA3 messenger RNA and protein expression was significantly higher. Regulatory T/type 2 helper cell ratio was inversely correlated with clinical symptom scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Regulatory T/type 2 helper cell immune imbalance may contribute to allergic rhinitis development. These findings provide a new insight into disease pathogenesis and potential therapeutic approaches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Examination,First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University,Chongqing,China.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology,Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University,Chongqing,China.
authors.forename: X-Y
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology,Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University,Chongqing,China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D056724:Immunity, Humoral / Q000502:physiology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; C494749:GATA3 protein, human; D015848:Interleukin-5; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D015847:Interleukin-4
keywords: Allergic Rhinitis; FOXP3 Protein; GATA3 Protein; Human; Regulatory T Cells; Th2 Cells