The evaluation of Frequency and Function of Regulatory T Cells and Th17 in COVID-19 Patients Compared to Healthy People

Abstract

In the course of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), raising and reducing the function of Th17 and Treg cells, respectively, elicit hyper inflammation and disease progression. The current study aimed to evaluate the responses of Th17 and Treg cells in COVID‐19 patients compared with the control group. Methods: Forty COVID‐19 intensive care unit patients were compared with 40 healthy controls. The frequency of cells, gene expression of related factors, as well as the secretion levels of cytokines, were measured by flow cytometry, real‐time polymerase chain reaction, and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay techniques, respectively. Results: The findings revealed a significant increase in the number of Th17 cells, the expression levels of related factors (RORγt, IL‐17, and IL‐23), and the secretion levels of IL‐17 and IL‐23 cytokines in COVID‐19 patients compared with controls. In contrast, patients had a remarkable reduction in the frequency of Treg cells, the expression levels of correlated factors (Forkhead box protein P3 [FoxP3], transforming growth factor‐β [TGF‐β], and IL‐10), and cytokine secretion levels (TGF‐β and IL‐10). The ratio of Th17/Treg, RORγt/FoxP3, and IL‐17/IL‐10 had a considerable enhancement in patients compared with the controls and also in dead patients compared with the improved cases.