科研之友
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摘要
Background: Pneumococcal carriage in the nasopharynx is a primary means of transmission and a necessary prerequisite for pneumococcal disease. Objectives: We analyzed the relationship between expressions of Foxp3+ regulatory T (T-reg) cells and Th17 cells, and pneumococcal carriage in the adenoids of children who were either positive or negative for pneumococci. Methods: We collected adenoidal tissue and nasopharyngeal swab samples from children undergoing an adenoidectomy. Adenoidal mononuclear cells were isolated, cultured and then stimulated with culture concentrated supernatant (CCS) obtained from a D39 bacterial strain. Results: Foxp3+ T-reg cells were upregulated and Th17 cells were downregulated in populations of adenoidal mononuclear cells obtained from the pneumococcus-positive group. Following CCS stimulation, the increment in Foxp3+ T-reg cells in the pneumococcus-positive group was significantly greater than that in the pneumococcus-negative group, while the increment in Th17 cells was less as compared to that in the pneumococcus-negative group. These results were consistent with variations in levels of Foxp3 mRNA and retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor-gamma t mRNA in adenoidal mononuclear cells. Levels of IL-17A and IL-6 in adenoid tissue were higher in the pneumococcus-negative group, and the levels of TGF-beta in adenoid tissue were lower in the pneumococcus-negative group compared to the pneumococcus-positive group. Pneumococcal carriage in children was closely associated with the expressions of Foxp3+ T-reg and Th17 cells in the adenoid. Conclusion: Upregulation of Foxp3+ T-reg cells might downregulate the production of Th17 cells in the adenoid, resulting in decreased scavenging of Streptococcus pneumoniae and chronic pneumococcal carriage.
- 出版日期2015
- 单位重庆医科大学
