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

ABSTRACTBackground: 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 Th1...