Increased levels of IL-6, pSTAT3, SCOS3, RORc, IL-17A, and CD4(+) RORc(+) cells, and decreased levels of IL-2, pSTAT5, Foxp3, TGF-β1, and CD4(+) Foxp3(+) cells were detected in both NP groups compared to controls (P < .05).
Compared with controls, mRNA levels corresponding to T-reg genes were significantly increased in NP (FOXP3, TGFB1, IL10, SMAD3, IL2RA, and JAK3), but transcription factors associated with Th2 (GATA3) or Th17 responses (RORc) were significantly reduced.
Inhibition of the mTOR signaling pathway may be helpful for enhancement of Foxp3+ Treg expansion, as well as modulation of T cell phenotype imbalances in nasal polyps.
These data suggest that Foxp3 is downregulated in NP and intranasal steroid attenuates the chronic inflammatory response by enhancing the expression and function of Foxp3 in NP.