Resumen de Association between environmental exposure and CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells

P. Fuss, I. Stelmach, K. Bal, J. Jerzynska, D. Podlecka, W. Stelmach

• Background It is considered that farm areas protect young patients from allergy and asthma due to high exposure to endotoxins.

  Aim To compare CD4+/CD25+ T-regulatory cells and forkhead transcription factor Foxp3 expression in asthmatic children allergic to house dust mites (HDM) living in rural and farm areas.

  Materials and Methods This was a prospective analysis of 35 children living in farm areas (n=19) and rural areas (n=16), aged 8–16, with allergic rhinitis (allergic to dust mites) and newly diagnosed asthma. Surface molecule CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ expression on cultured PBMCs was estimated by flow cytometry using fluorophore-conjugated monoclonal antibodies in each patient.

  Results Thirty-five children were included into the analysis: 19 children living in farm areas and 16 in rural areas. Within and between-groups (farm area vs. rural area) differences in CD4+/CD25+ and CD4+/CD25+Foxp3+ cell expression did not reach the level of significance.

  Conclusion The current analysis showed that CD4+/CD25+ and CD4+/CD25+Foxp3+ cell expression was not associated with place of living in asthmatic children sensitive to HDM.