Th17/Treg cells regulated by interleukin 6 in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

PURPOSE: To be investigated whether Th17/Treg cells regulated by Interleukin-6 in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. METHODS: The distributions of Th17 and Treg cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and tissues got from 46 CRSwNP patients and 14 controls were evaluated. Th17 and Treg cells and cells-related cytokines in serum were assessed in means of cytometric bead array (CBA) multiplex assays and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Spleen cells were isolated from spleen of 20 normal BALB/c mice (male), isolated and purified with CD4 antibody immunomagnetic bead kit. CD4+ cells were divided into three groups, including TGF-ß1, TGF-ß1+ IL-6 and control (PBS). Treg and Th17 cells and cells related cytokines were detected by flow cytometry (FCM) after collecting spleen cells. The level of IL-10 and IL-17 in supernatant was measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Th17/Treg ratio and the level of IL-6 in both ECRSwNP (P < 0.05) and non-ECRSwNP (P < 0.05) were significantly increased when compared with control group, these were consistent with the previous findings. Experiments in vitro suggested that the level of Th17 cells in IL-6+ TGF-ß1 group was significantly increased than TGF-ß1 group and control group (P < 0.05). The ratio of cells expressed RoRγt in IL-6+ TGF-ß1 group was much higher than TGF-ß1 group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: IL-6 might regulate the function of Th17 and Treg cells and the Th17/Treg ratio and have a role in the pathogenesis of CRSwNP.