Table 2.
Summary of RT-qPCR, flow cytometry, and ELISA results in study population.
| Variables | Control | OSAS (n = 44) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Mild to Moderate | Severe | ||
| Subjects, n | 20 | 44 | 23 | 21 |
| T-cell counts (Flow cytometry) | ||||
| Th17 (% of CD4+) | 1.65 ± 0.49 | 3.08 ± 0.68* | 2.77 ± 0.68‡ | 3.42 ± 0.49†§ |
| Treg (% of CD4+) | 2.81 ± 0.46 | 1.50 ± 0.38* | 1.69 ± 0.34‡ | 1.30 ± 0.31§ |
| Th17/Treg ratio | 0.58 ± 0.13 | 2.23 ± 0.94* | 1.71 ± 0.67‡ | 2.80 ± 0.84†§ |
| mRNA expression of transcription factors (RT-qPCR) | ||||
| RORγt /GADPH mRNA | 1.42 ± 0.32 | 3.18 ± 0.19* | 2.21 ± 0.37‡ | 4.25 ± 0.79†§ |
| Foxp3/GADPH mRNA | 4.10 ± 0.97 | 2.50 ± 1.38* | 3.56 ± 1.07‡ | 1.33 ± 0.35†§ |
| Protein levels of cytokines (pg/mL) (ELISA) | ||||
| IL-10 | 52.17 ± 23.18 | 47.84 ± 10.72 | 46.79 ± 11.69 | 49.06 ± 8.51 |
| TGF-β 1 | 146.81 ± 21.36 | 63.18 ± 16.10* | 74.26 ± 11.40‡ | 52.19 ± 12.53†§ |
| IL-17 | 55.12 ± 18.23 | 70.30 ± 13.65* | 65.78 ± 13.97‡ | 75.24 ± 11.40†§ |
| IL-6 | 42.56 ± 21.15 | 55.09 ± 17.02* | 56.20 ± 22.41‡ | 53.75 ± 19.52§ |
| hsCRP | 60.33 ± 20.38 | 183.11 ± 73.02* | 118.65 ± 16.72‡ | 253.71 ± 36.49†§ |
Values are expressed as mean ± SD.
The prevalence of Treg or Th17 cells was expressed by a percentage of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+/CD4+T or CD4+IL-17+/CD4+ T lymphocytes.
*P < 0.05, Control versus total OSAS;
† P < 0.05, Mild to Moderate OSAS versus Severe OSAS;
‡ P < 0.05, Control versus Mild to Moderate OSAS;
§ P < 0.05, Control versus Severe OSAS.