title: Folate status, regulatory T cells and MTHFR C677T polymorphism study in allergic children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate early-life folate serum concentrations in children with food, inhalant or mixed type allergy. The influence of folate levels on the FoxP3expression in Treg (regulatory T) cells in the studied children, taking into account the MTHFR (5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) genotypes was also analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed in 83 allergic children (study group) and 49 healthy children (control group), aged 2-72 months. Medical history of each child was obtained and laboratory tests (serum folic acid concentrations and MTHFR C677T polymorphism) were carried out. The percentage of Treg cells was evaluated in almost a half of the examined subjects (48.5%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly higher serum folate levels in the group of children with food allergy than in those with inhalant allergy was confirmed (P=0.037). In the study group the TT homozygotes were characterized by significantly lower folate concentrations than CC homozygotes (P=0.045). A negative correlation was demonstrated between the FoxP3expression in CD4+CD25highFoxP3+peripheral blood lymphocytes and serum folic acid concentrations. The correlation was more pronounced in the group of allergic children and it was statistically significant (r=-0.339, P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the study indicate a possibility of some effects of folate status on Treg cells, thus suggesting their potential role in the development and course of allergy in children.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology, Allergology and Pediatric Department, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital - Research Institute, Lodz, Poland. Electronic address: sochabanasiak@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Socha-Banasiak
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology, Allergology and Pediatric Department, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital - Research Institute, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kamer
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital - Research Institute, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gach
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital - Research Institute, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Urszula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wysocka
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital - Research Institute, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Lucjusz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jakubowski
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Diagnostics Centre, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital - Research Institute, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Głowacka
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology, Allergology and Pediatric Department, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital - Research Institute, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Elżbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Czkwianianc
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D007223:Infant; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D005492:Folic Acid; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)
keywords: Allergy; Children; Folates; MTHFR C677T polymorphism; Regulatory T cells