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. 2021 Dec;34(4):147-152.
doi: 10.1089/ped.2021.0067.

Th17 Lymphocytes in Children with Asthma: Do They Influence Control?

Verónica Moreno-Córdova  1 , Roberto Berra-Romani  2 , Lilian K Flores Mendoza  3 , Julio Reyes-Leyva  4
Affiliations

Th17 Lymphocytes in Children with Asthma: Do They Influence Control?

Verónica Moreno-Córdova et al. Pediatr Allergy Immunol Pulmonol. 2021 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Allergic asthma was considered as an inflammation mediated by specific CD4+ helper lymphocytes (Th2); however, this paradigm changed in 2005, when a third group of helper cells called Th17 cells were identified. Th17 lymphocytes are the main source of interleukin (IL)-17A-F, IL-21, and IL-22; however, their physiological role in children is unclear. This study aimed to determine the percentage of Th17 cells and IL-17A in pediatric patients diagnosed with asthma and to associate it with disease control using a validated questionnaire. Methods: This cross-sectional, prospective, comparative study included 92 asthma-diagnosed children 4-18 years of age. The Asthma Control Test was used as an assessment measure to classify patients as controlled (n = 30), partially controlled (n = 31), and uncontrolled (n = 31). Th17 cells and IL-17A were analyzed by flow cytometry. Patients receiving inhaled steroid therapy as monotherapy or associated with a long-acting bronchodilator were included. Results: The mean percentage of Th17 cells in the participants was 4.55 ± 7.34 (Controlled), 5.50 ± 8.09 (Partially Controlled), and 6.14 ± 7.11 (Uncontrolled). There was no significant difference between the 3 groups (P = 0.71). The mean percentage of IL-17A in all the participants was 9.84 ± 9.4 (Controlled), 10.10 ± 10.5 (Partially Controlled), and 11.42 ± 8.96 (Uncontrolled); no significant difference between the 3 groups (P = 0.79) was observed. Th17 lymphocyte levels were similar among the 3 groups and the same trend was observed with IL-17A. A significant correlation between Th17 or IL-17A and the degree of asthma control (Th17, P = 0.24; IL-17A, P = 0.23) was not found. Conclusions: The percentages of both Th17 lymphocytes and IL-17A found in children with asthma were not significantly different in the 3 groups, which suggests that they do not play an important role in asthma control. Our findings may contribute to the knowledge related to non-Th2 inflammation in children. Clinical-Trials.gov ID: 2015-2102-85.

Keywords: Th17 lymphocytes; asthma; children; control; interleukin 17.

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Conflict of interest statement

No competing financial interests exist.

Figures

FIG. 1.
FIG. 1.
(A) Dot plot of CD3+ CD4+ lymphocytes (double-positive cells) (B) the population of Th17 lymphocytes (ROR-γ+ IL-17+). Both figures are representative of n = 92. IL, interleukin.
FIG. 2.
FIG. 2.
A flow cytometry dot plot is presented [X-axis: IL-17-A APC-Cy7; Y-axis: FSC]. IL-17A-positive cells are colored in king blue and enclosed in the box. FSC-H: cell size, APC-Cy7: IL-17-coupled fluorochrome. The image is representative of 92 patients.
FIG. 3.
FIG. 3.
A graph with % of Th17 lymphocytes in the different study groups is presented. The graph shows the mean with SD. SD, standard deviation.
FIG. 4.
FIG. 4.
Cytokine IL-17A expression in the different study groups. The graph shows the mean with SD.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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