FOXP3-marked IL-17a-producing regulatory T cells are increased in patients with allergic rhinitis

Abstract

Conclusion: The deficient regulatory T cells may play a role in the development of allergic rhinitis. Objective: A subpopulation of regulatory T cell that produce IL-17a were proved to show an apparent duality of regulatory T cell and effector T helper-17 cells. We studied this subpopulation in patients with allergic rhinitis. Methods: Fresh whole blood from 20 patients with allergic rhinitis and 19 healthy donors was used to investigate the frequencies of CD4⁺IFN-γ⁺ T cells (effector T helper-1), CD4⁺IL-4⁺ T cells (effector T helper-2) and CD4⁺IL-17a⁺ T cells (effector T helper-17) by flow cytometry after stimulation for 4–6 h. Simultaneously, CD4⁺ T lymphocytes were isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and then the frequencies of regulatory T cells and IL-17a-producing regulatory T cells in the allergic rhinitis group were compared with healthy controls after T-cell antigen receptor stimulation for 48 h. The suppressive capacity of CD4⁺CD25^highCD127^low regulatory T cells that were stimulated by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in both groups was isolated and assessed. Results: The frequencies of effector T helper-17 and effector T helper-2 cells were higher in the allergic group compared with healthy controls. Regulatory T cells were similar in both groups, but IL-17a-producing regulatory T cells were increased in the allergic group. In addition, the capacity of regulatory T cells to suppress effector T helper-17 cytokine production was significantly decreased in the allergic group.

Keywords::

• Th1
• Th2
• Th17
• Treg

Acknowledgments

We thank Xiaochao Liu, Binbin Yang, and Yang Wang for their help in the lab.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.