The expression of Treg/Th17 cells related transcription factors and cytokines in PBMCs and plasma in patients with allergic rhinitis / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the changes of Treg/Th17 cells related transcription factors (FOXP3, RORC) and cytokines (TGF-beta, IL-17) in the peripheral blood in patients with allergic rhinitis.@*METHOD@#Use visual analogue scale (VAS) to assess the allergic rhinitis severity of patients. Eighteen patients with allergic rhinitis and 12 healthy control subjects were consecutively enrolled. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from all patients and healthy control subjects (after prick test). The mRNA expressions of key transcription factors (RORC, FOXP3) in PBMCs were measured by RT-PCR, and the concentrations of TGF-beta, IL-17 in plasma were measured by ELISA.@*RESULT@#Patients with moderate/severe persistent rhinitis have a VAS of 8.5 +/- 0.8, and total patients have a VAS of 6.2 +/- 1.6. Compared with healthy control subjects, the mRNA expressions of FOXP3 and the concentrations of TGF-beta in plasma were significantly lower in patients with allergic rhinitis (P < 0.01) while the mRNA expressions of RORC and the concentrations of IL-17 in plasma were significantly higher in allergic rhinitis group (P < 0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#The imbalance of Treg/Th17 cells existed in allergic rhinitis patients, which may contribute to the proceeding of allergic rhinitis.