Correlation of gammadelta-T-cells, Th17 cells and IL-17 in peripheral blood of patients with allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUD: Gammadelta-T-cells play an important role in the mucosal immune system of the respiratory tract. Th17 cells plays an important role in promoting inflammation and autoimmune diseases. Th17 cells mainly secrete IL-17. However, little information is available on the relation between gammadelta-T-cells and Th17 cells in allergic rhinitis (AR).

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation between the prevalence of gammadelta-T-cells, the prevalence of Th17 cells and the expression of IL-17 in the peripheral blood of patients with AR.

METHODS: Peripheral blood from the AR group (32 cases) and the control group (20 cases) was collected from March 2012 to July 2012. The percentages of gammadelta-T-cells and Th17 cells were measured by flow cytometry, and the levels of IL-17 were measured by ELISA.

RESULTS: The percentage of gammadeta-T-cells and Th17 cells in the AR group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.01). The levels of IL-17 in the AR group were also significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.01). There were positive correlations between the gammadelta-T-cell percentage and the Th17 cell percentage in the peripheral blood of AR patients (r = 0.597, P < 0.01); and between the gammadelta-T-cells percentage and the levels of IL-17 (r = 0.469,P < 0.01). However, no correlation was found between the Th17 cell percentage and the levels of IL-17 (r = 0.100, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Gammadelta-T-cells and Th17 cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of AR; gammadelta-T-cells may primarily be associated with the secretion of IL-17.