Th17/Treg dysregulation in allergic asthmatic children is associated with elevated notch expression

Abstract

Background: Notch signaling pathway is critically involved in the differentiation of T helper (Th) cells, key players in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases.

Objective: The study is to explore whether Th17/Treg dysregulation in children with allergic asthma (AA) is associated with alteration of Notch expression.

Methods: Thirty-five patients with AA and thirty-five healthy control children were selected. Flow cytometry was used to detect Th17 and Treg cells. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) was used to measure the expression of Notch1 mRNA. The correlations among Notch1 mRNA expression, the percentage of Th17 cells, and Th17/Treg ratio were calculated.

Results: Th17 and Treg cells were significantly increased and decreased, respectively, in children with AA than in healthy control (p < 0.001). mRNA level of Notch1 was elevated in children with AA comparing to healthy controls (p < 0.001). The mRNA expression of Notch1 was positively correlated with the percentage of Th17 cells (r = 0.775, p < 0.001) and Th17/Treg ratio (r = 0.698, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Children with AA showed dysregulation of Th17/Treg cells in peripheral blood. Such change is accompanied with overexpression of Notch1, indicating Th17/Treg dysregulation in children with AA is associated with elevated Notch expression.

Keywords: Asthma; Notch signaling pathway; Th17; Treg; children.