[Imbalance of Th17/Treg cell ratio in peripheral blood of patients with nasal polyposis and its clinical significance].

AIM: To observe the distribution of Th17 cells and Foxp3(+);CD4(+);CD25(+); regulatory T cells in peripheral blood of patients with nasal polyposis(NP) and their correlation with clinical patients' condition, and to explore the role of Th17/Treg cell ratio imbalance in pathogenesis of nasal polyposis and significance.

METHODS: The frequencies of Th17 cells and Treg cells were determined in 46 patients with NP and 10 controls by flow cytometry. The 46 patients were divided into two groups according to endoscopy score and CT score: the 1 group (endoscopy score: 2-8 scores; CT score: 3-10 scores, n=23) and the 2 group (endoscopy score: 8-12 scores; CT score: 10-19 scores, n=23).

RESULTS: Th17 cells were significantly higher in the blood of patients with NP compared with the control group (P<0.01), and the percentage was higher in the 2 group than the 1 group (P<0.05). The frequency of Treg cells was significantly decreased in patients with NP compared to the control group (P<0.01), whereas the difference between two groups was not significant. The ratio of Th17/Treg cells was highest in the 2 group (P<0.01), lower in the 1 group (P<0.01) and lowest in control subjects, and the differences were also significant between two groups (P<0.05). Furthermore, it was confirmed that the ratio of Th17/Treg positively correlated with endoscopy score and CT score (P<0.01).

CONCLUSION: The imbalance of Th17/Treg cell ratio characterized by increased Th17 cells and decreased Treg cells exists in peripheral blood of NP patients and may play an important role in the onset and development of NP. The degree of Th17/Treg cell imbalance may associate with clinical presentation.