The Role of Th17/Treg Imbalance, FeNO, Eosinophils, IgE and Their Correlation with Lung Function Parameters with Asthma-Chronic  Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chenli  Xie; Weixia  Xu; Shuke  Rao; Yanshen  Xie; Qingting  Liang; Lichong  Chen; Weiliang  Yuan; Ying  Xie; Huafeng  Li; Guihua  Xu

doi:10.18502/ijaai.v23i6.17373

Chenli Xie Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Binhaiwan Central Hospital of Dongguan, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
Weixia Xu Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Binhaiwan Central Hospital of Dongguan, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
Shuke Rao Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Binhaiwan Central Hospital of Dongguan, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
Yanshen Xie Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Binhaiwan Central Hospital of Dongguan, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
Qingting Liang Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Binhaiwan Central Hospital of Dongguan, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
Lichong Chen Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Binhaiwan Central Hospital of Dongguan, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
Weiliang Yuan Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Binhaiwan Central Hospital of Dongguan, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
Ying Xie Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Binhaiwan Central Hospital of Dongguan, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
Huafeng Li Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Binhaiwan Central Hospital of Dongguan, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
Guihua Xu Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Binhaiwan Central Hospital of Dongguan, Dongguan, Guangdong, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijaai.v23i6.17373

Keywords: Asthma-COPD overlap syndrome; Cytokines; Lung function; Regulatory T cells; Systemic inflammation; Th17 cells

Abstract

This study explored the link between clinical features, immune markers, and asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap (ACO), aiming to enhance diagnostic precision and tailor treatment.

The study included 60 patients per group: COPD patients, ACO patients, and healthy controls. Biological indicators such as fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), eosinophils, immunoglobulin E (IgE), T helper (Th) 17 cell counts, regulatory T-cell (Treg) counts, and cytokine levels of interleukin-17 (IL-17) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were measured using standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry techniques.

Elevated Th17 cells, IL-17, and Th17/Treg ratio, alongside reduced IL-10 and Treg levels, were observed in COPD and ACO patients. ACO patients showed worse lung function, with a negative correlation between FeNO, Th17 cells, Th17/Treg ratio, IL-17, and lung function indices, and a positive correlation with residual volume/total lung capacity (RV/TLC) ratio.

The study suggests that Th17/Treg imbalance, FeNO, eosinophils, and IgE could be key in ACO pathogenesis, potentially aiding early diagnosis and targeted treatment. Future research may utilize these findings to develop preventative and therapeutic strategies for ACO.