OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the changes in percentage of GATA3+ regulatory T (Treg)
cells in
patients with
allergic rhinitis (AR) and
mouse models.@*
METHODS@#The
nasal mucosa specimens were obtained from 6 AR
patients and 6 control
patients for
detection of nasal mucosal
inflammation.
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were collected from 12 AP
patients and 12 control
patients to determine the percentages of
Treg cells and GATA3+
Treg cells. In a C57BL/6
mouse model of AR, the AR symptom score, peripheral
blood OVA-sIgE level, and nasal mucosal
inflammation were assessed, and the
spleen of
mice was collected for detecting the percentages of
Treg cells and GATA3+
Treg cells and the expressions of Th2
cytokines.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the control
patients, AR
patients showed significantly increased
eosinophil infiltration and
goblet cell proliferation in the
nasal mucosa (P < 0.01) and decreased percentages of
Treg cells and GATA3+
Treg cells (P < 0.05). The
mouse models of AR also had more obvious allergic symptoms, significantly increased
OVA-sIgE level in peripheral
blood,
eosinophil infiltration and
goblet cell hyperplasia (P < 0.01), markedly lowered percentages of
Treg cells and GATA3+
Treg cells in the
spleen (P < 0.01), and increased expressions of
IL-4,
IL-6 and
IL-10 (P < 0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The percentage of GATA3+
Treg cells is decreased in AR
patients and
mouse models. GATA3+
Treg cells possibly participate in
Th2 cell immune response, both of which are involved in the occurrence and progression of AR, suggesting the potential of GATA3+
Treg cells as a new
therapeutic target for AR.