Changes and clinical significance of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cell and relative cell factors in peripheral blood of steroid-resistant allergic rhinitis patients

Abstract

Objective To investigate the changes of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cell (Treg) and relative cell factors in peripheral blood of steroid-resistant allergic rhinitis (AR) patients, and to study their functions in occurrence of steroid-resistant AR. Methods The CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Treg cell in 30 cases general physical examination (The control group), 30 cases steroid-sensitive AR patients (steroid-sensitive group) and 30 cases steroid-resistant AR patients (steroid-resistant group) were detected by flow cytometry. The levels of serum interleukin 10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) in the three groups were detected by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA). Results Compare to the control group, proportion of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Treg cell and the levels of serum IL-10, TGF-β1 in steroid-sensitive group and steroid-resistant group were significantly reduced (P<0.01). The proportion of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Treg cell and the levels of serum IL-10, TGF-β1 in steroid-resistant group were decreased significantly than steroid-sensitive group (P<0.01). The proportion of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Treg cell were positively correlated with the serum IL-10, and TGF-β1(P<0.01). Conclusions The reduced proportion of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Treg cell and lower serum IL-10, TGF-β1 play an important role in the occurrence of steroid-resistant AR patients. Key words: Rhinitis, allergic, perennial; CD4-positive T-lymphocytes; T-lymphocytes, regulatory; Interleukin-10/ME; Transforming growth factor beta/ME