Effect of γ-secretase inhibitor on Treg in PBMC of respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis children

Abstract

Bronchiolitis is a widespread lower respiratory tract infection in infants and young children, and isclosely related to the incidence of asthma, and T regulatory cells (Tregs) play a role in its pathogenesis.Notch signaling pathways are closely related to T cells and play a role in respiratory syncytial virus(RSV) bronchiolitis. In this study, we observed the changes in Treg and the level of FoxP3 mRNA inPBMCs in children with RSV bronchiolitis after blocking Notch signaling pathway by γ-secretaseinhibitor MW167, which provides a new idea for RSV bronchiolitis immunotherapy. The study enrolled30 patients with RSV bronchiolitis and 25 normal controls. PBMC was separated and divided into anormal control group, an RSV group, and an MW167 group. The percentage of Tregs was detected byflow cytometry, and the level of FoxP3 mRNA was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR.Compared with the normal group, the percentage of Tregs in the RSV group was decreased, and thelevels of FoxP3 mRNA were significantly decreased. Compared with the RSV group, the percentage ofTregs in the MW167 group was increased, and the levels of FoxP3 mRNA were increased. There arechanges in the percentage of Tregs and the level of transcription factor FoxP3 in PBMCs of childrenwith RSV bronchiolitis, and γ-secretase inhibitor MW167 can reverse this change to a certain extent.