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

Background: 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.(