Changes in proportion and function of peripheral CD4+LAP+ regulatory T cells in children with asthma

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the changes in the proportion and function of peripheral CD4⁺LAP⁺regulatory T cells (CD4⁺LAP⁺Treg cells) in children with asthma, as well as the role of CD4⁺LAP⁺Treg cells in the pathogenesis of asthma. Methods A total of 75 children who were diagnosed with asthma from March 2014 to September 2015 were enrolled as study subjects, and according to their conditions, they were divided into acute-stage asthma group (40 children) and remission-stage asthma group (35 patients). Another 30 children who underwent physical examination were enrolled as the healthy control group. Flow cytometry was used to determine the percentage of peripheral CD4⁺LAP⁺Treg cells, and[3H]-thymidine incorporation assay was performed to analyze the immunosuppression of CD4⁺LAP⁺Treg cells in each group. Results The acute-stage asthma group showed significant reductions in the proportion of CD4⁺LAP⁺Treg cells compared with the remission-stage asthma group and the healthy control group (2.0%±1.0% vs 4.1%±2.4%/4.6%±3.0%; P < 0.05). The acute-stage asthma group also showed a significant reduction in the immunosuppression rate of CD4⁺LAP⁺Treg cells compared with the remission-stage asthma group and the healthy control group (21%±4% vs 55%±9%/62%±11%; P < 0.05). Conclusions In children with asthma, the reduction in the number and inhibitory function of peripheral CD4⁺LAP⁺Treg cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of asthma.