Disrupted Treg/Th17 balance in patients with recurrent furunculosis

Aim: Tregs and Th17 functioning may be impaired in patients with recurrent furunculosis (RF); therefore, we analyzed changes in CD4+ lymphocyte T subsets (Treg/Th17) in patients with RF, and assessed the relationships between increased susceptibility to infections and Treg/Th17 status in RF patients and healthy subjects. Material/Methods: Peripheral blood samples from 30 patients with RF and 20 healthy age- and sex-matched subjects were examined. The percentage and number of Th17 cells, Tregs, and other basic lymphocyte subsets were examined. Results: Tregs and CD3+CD4+ count was significantly lower in patients with RF (p <0.0001 and p = 0.0003), while Th17 and CD19+CD25+ cell count was significantly higher (p = 0.0450 and p = 0.0119) in comparison with controls. Strong positive correlations occurred between the following subsets of cells: Th17 and Th CD3+CD4+(r = 0.55, p<0.05); CD3+CD4+T17 and CD3+CD4+ lymphocytes (r = 0.66, p <0.05); CD3+CD4+ lymphocytes and CD3+CD25+ lymphocytes (r = 0.69, p <0.05), and between lymphocytes B and CD19+CD25+ lymphocytes (r = 0.81). Conclusions: Proportions of subpopulations of lymphocytes in patients with RF differ to those in healthy subjects. It is possible that a decrease in the percentage and number of Tregs together with a decrease in the number of CD3+CD4+ and increase in the percentage and number of Th17 may contribute to the pathogenesis of RF.