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The role of regulatory T cells in allergic rhinitis and their correlation with IL-10, IL-17 and neopterin levels in serum and nasal lavage fluid

  • Rhinology
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Allergic rhinitis (AR), is an IgE-mediated inflammation of the nose. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) and inflammatory cytokines have been shown to play a critical role in allergic airway inflammation. The aim of the study was to compare the levels of blood T lymphocyte subsets and IL-10, IL-17 and neopterin concentrations in serum and nasal lavage of patients with AR compared to healthy subjects.

Methods

The study included 38 subjects with moderate-severe AR and 36 sex- and age-matched controls. Peripheral blood CD3+, CD3+CD4+ and CD4+CD25+Foxp3 percentages were evaluated using flow cytometry. Levels of IL-10, IL-17 and neopterin were measured both in serum and nasal lavage fluid with ELISA and HPLC, respectively.

Results

No difference was found in the percentages of T lymphocyte subsets between the two groups (p > 0.05). Serum IL-10 levels were similar (p > 0.05), whereas nasal IL-10 was lower in AR subjects compared to control group (2.22 ± 0.91 and 3.12 ± 1.45 pg/ml, respectively) (p < 0.05). Mean serum and nasal IL-17 were higher in AR (107.7 ± 79.61 and 527.36 ± 738.7 pg/ml) than the control group (76.29 ± 28.94 and 328.9 ± 430.8 pg/ml) (p < 0.05 and p > 0.05). There were no significant differences in serum and nasal neopterin levels (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

Although there were no differences in the distribution of lymphocyte subsets between the AR and control groups, the finding of higher levels of serum and nasal IL-17 and lower levels of nasal IL-10 support the cytokine imbalance in the pathogenesis of AR.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Otolaryngology Department, Konya Egitim ve Arastirma Hastanesi, Konya, Turkey

    Kadriye Erkan

  2. Otolaryngology Department, Selcuk University School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey

    Mete K. Bozkurt & Çağdaş Elsürer

  3. Selcuk University School of Medicine, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Dept, Konya, Turkey

    Hasibe Artaç & Hülya Özdemir

  4. Selcuk University School of Medicine, Biochemistry Dept, Konya, Turkey

    Ali Ünlü

  5. Necmettin Erbakan University, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Konya, Turkey

    Emine N. Korucu

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  1. Kadriye Erkan
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Correspondence to Mete K. Bozkurt.

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Erkan, K., Bozkurt, M.K., Artaç, H. et al. The role of regulatory T cells in allergic rhinitis and their correlation with IL-10, IL-17 and neopterin levels in serum and nasal lavage fluid. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 277, 1109–1114 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-05811-4

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