Effects Of C3a C3aR Signaling Pathway On The Balance Of Treg/Th17Cells In PNS Children

Objective The Treg/Th17cells balance plays a crucial role in theregulation of immune responses. The aim of this study was to investigate theeffects of C3a C3aR(C3a Receptor) signaling pathway on the balance ofTreg/Th17cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) inPNS(Primary nephrotic syndrome) children.Methods PBMCs were isolated from healthy children,SNS children,NNS children and children with PNS in remission stage. Then PBMCs weredivided into three groups:①control group;②C3a-treated group;③C3areceptor antagonists (C3aRA)-treated group. The percentage of Treg andTh17cells in PBMCs of each group was detected by flow cytometry, andthen Treg/Th17ratio was calculated.Results1. In healthy children,We found that Th17cells wereremarkably increased (P<0.05) and the Treg/Th17ratio was dramaticallydecreased (P<0.05) in the C3a-treated group compared with the controlgroup, while there was no significant difference in the proportion of Tregcells between the two groups (P>0.05). Th17and Treg cells were markedly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01) and the Treg/Th17ratio was profoundlydecreased (P<0.05) in the C3aRA-treated group in contrast to theC3a-treated group and the control group.2.The proportion of Th17cellswere higher in SNS and NNS groups than the control group(P<0.05), andthey were higher in NNS group than SNS group(P<0.05). The proportion ofTreg cells were lower in SNS and NNS groups than control group(P<0.05),and they were lower in NNS group than SNS group(P<0.05). Th17cells,Treg cells and Treg/Th17ratio showed no significant difference in thechildren with PNS in remission stage versus the control group (P>0.05).3.In PNS children, We found that Th17cells were remarkably increased(P<0.05) and the Treg/Th17ratio was dramatically decreased (P<0.05) inthe C3a-treated group compared with the control group, while there was nosignificant difference in the proportion of Treg cells between the two groups(P>0.05). Th17and Treg cells were markedly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01)and the Treg/Th17ratio was profoundly decreased (P<0.05) in theC3aRA-treated group in contrast to the C3a-treated group and the controlgroup.Conclusion1. C3a C3aR signaling pathway is involved in theactivation of Th17cells in PBMCs in PNS children.2. Imbalance of Treg/Th17cells might contribute to the pathogenesis in PNS children and itmight be associated with clinical presentation, pathological type andprognosis of the disease.3. C3a C3aR signaling pathway might participate in the regulation of Treg/Th17balance in PBMCs in PNS children.