Th17/Treg homeostasis, but not Th1/Th2 homeostasis, is implicated in exacerbation of human bronchial asthma

Figures & data

Figure 1 Lung function and ACT scores.

Notes: (A) FEV₁/FEV_1pred levels in three groups. (B) The ACT scores in patients with asthma (^*P < 0.05, ^**P < 0.01).
Abbreviations: ACT, Asthma Control Test Questionnaire; FEV₁, forced expiratory volume in the first second.

Table 1 Patient characteristics processed data

Exacerbation group			Non-exacerbation group			Control group
Age (years)	Disease course (years)	Gender	Age (years)	Gender	Disease course (years)	Age (years)	Gender
31	2	M	25	F	3	25	M
29	5	M	35	F	6	28	M
48	4	F	58	M	32	36	F
51	7	M	36	F	12	26	M
32	4	F	22	M	4	20	F
37	9	M	48	M	25	18	M
51	12	M	50	M	12	41	F
47	9	F	26	M	4	33	M
32	1	M	18	F	3	29	M
52	12	F	29	M	5	27	F
41	10	F	51	F	8	24	F
41	6	M	32	M	7	26	F
28	4	M	44	M	25	30	F
26	5	M	37	F	9	28	M
50	21	F	56	F	38	29	M
22	4	M	32	M	20	25	M
42	8	F	41	F	14	24	F
58	29	M	35	M	3
35	9	F
20	7	M
33	4	F
57	20	M
39	10	F
41	7	M
30	3	F
36	6	F
65	34	M
40	4	M
38	8	F
57	37	M
34	10	F

Abbreviations: F, female; M, male.

Figure 2 The cytokine levels in plasma.

Notes: (A) Cytokine IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-17A, IL-10, and IL-13 expression levels in the three groups. (B) The ratio of IL-4/IFN-γ and IL-17A/IL-10 in plasma. (^*P < 0.05 versus control group, ^#P < 0.05 versus non-exacerbation group, one-way analysis of variance).
Abbreviations: IFN-γ, interferon-γ; IL, interleukin.

Figure 3 The transcription factor mRNA levels in plasma. (The mRNA level calculated here is relative to house-keeping gene expression.)

Notes: (A) The transcription factor levels in the three groups. (B) The ratio of GATA-3/T-bet and RORγt/Foxp3 in plasma. (^*P < 0.05 versus control group, ^#P < 0.05 versus non-exacerbation group, Mann–Whitney test).
Abbreviations: Foxp3, forkhead/winged helix transcription factor 3; GATA-3, GATA binding protein 3; RORγt, retinoic acid–related orphan receptor gamma T; T-bet, T-box expressed in T cells.

Figure 4 Spearman’s correlation analysis between Th17/Treg and Th2/Th1 homeostasis in asthmatic patients.

Notes: Correlation analysis between IL-17A/IL-10 and IL-4/IFN-γ (A, r = −0.201, P = 0.278) and RORγt/Foxp3 and GATA-3/T-bet in exacerbation group (B, r = −0.250, P = 0.173) and between IL-17A/IL-10 and IL-4/IFN-γ (C, r = 0.876, P = 0.054) and RORγt/Foxp3 and GATA-3/T-bet (D, r = −0.231, P = 0.338) in non-exacerbation group. P-value less than 0.05 means significant correlation.
Abbreviations: Foxp3, forkhead/winged helix transcription factor 3; GATA-3, GATA binding protein 3; IFN-γ, interferon-γ; IL, interleukin; RORγt, retinoic acid–related orphan receptor gamma T; T-bet, T-box expressed in T cells.

Figure 5 Spearman’s correlation analysis between cytokine expression ratios and disease severity in exacerbation group.

Notes: Correlation analysis between IL-17A/IL-10 and FEV₁/FEV_1pred (A, r = −0.769, P = 0.001) and ACT scores (B, r = −0.487, P = 0.016) and between IL-4/IFN-γ and FEV₁/FEV_1pred (C, r = 0.307, P = 0.093) and ACT scores (D, r = 0.415, P = 0.075). P-value less than 0.05 means significant correlation.
Abbreviations: ACT, Asthma Control Test Questionnaire; FEV₁, forced expiratory volume in the first second; IFN-γ, interferon-γ; IL, interleukin.

Figure 6 Spearman’s correlation analysis between cytokine expression ratios and disease severity in non-exacerbation group.

Notes: Correlation analysis between IL-17A/IL-10 and FEV₁/FEV_1pred (A, r = −0.965, P = 0.003) and ACT scores (B, r = −0.667, P = 0.029) and between IL-4/IFN-γ and FEV₁/FEV_1pred (C, r = −0.842, P = 0.004) and ACT scores (D, r = −0.467, P = 0.044). P-value less than 0.05 means significant correlation.
Abbreviations: ACT, Asthma Control Test Questionnaire; FEV₁, forced expiratory volume in the first second; IFN-γ, interferon-γ; IL, interleukin.

Figure 7 Spearman’s correlation analysis between transcription factor mRNA levels and disease severity in exacerbation group.

Notes: Correlation analysis between RORγt/Foxp3 and FEV₁/FEV_1pred (A, r = −0.725, P = 0.016) and ACT scores (B, r = −0.632, P = 0.015) and between GATA-3/T-bet and FEV₁/FEV_1pred (C, r = 0.172, P = 0.355) and ACT scores (D, r = 0.183, P = 0.324). P-value less than 0.05 means significant correlation.
Abbreviations: ACT, Asthma Control Test Questionnaire; FEV₁, forced expiratory volume in the first second; Foxp3, forkhead/winged helix transcription factor; GATA-3, GATA binding protein 3; RORγt, retinoic acid–related orphan receptor gamma T; T-bet, T-box expressed in T cells.

Figure 8 Spearman’s correlation analysis between transcription factor mRNA levels and disease severity in non-exacerbation group.

Notes: Correlation analysis between RORγt/Foxp3 and FEV₁/FEV_1pred (A, r = −0.758, P = 0.028) and ACT scores (B, r = −0.415, P = 0.086) and between GATA-3/T-bet and FEV₁/FEV_1pred (C, r = 0.292, P = 0.239) and ACT scores (D, r = 0.301, P = 0.225). P-value less than 0.05 means significant correlation.
Abbreviations: ACT, Asthma Control Test Questionnaire; FEV₁, forced expiratory volume in the first second; Foxp3, forkhead/winged helix transcription factor; GATA-3, GATA binding protein 3; RORγt, retinoic acid–related orphan receptor gamma T; T-bet, T-box expressed in T cells.