Correlation of Foxp3 expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes with TLR9 and IRF-7 in dendritic cells in patients with condyloma acuminatum

Objective To analyze the correlation between forkhead box protein 3 (Foxp3) in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLCs) and the expression levels of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) and interferon regulatory factor-7 (IRF-7) in the dendritic cells (DCs) in patients with condyloma acuminatum. Methods From February, 2017 to February, 2018, a total of 120 patients with condyloma acuminatum were enrolled as the case group, with 120 healthy subjects undergoing routine physical examination during the same period as the control group. The expression levels of TLR9 and IRF-7 in the DCs and Foxp3 expression levels in the PBLCs were compared between the 2 groups, and the correlation between Foxp3 in the PBLCs and TLR9 and IRF-7 expression in the DCs was analyzed. Results TLR9 and IRF-7 levels in the DCs were significantly higher in the case group than in the healthy control group, and their levels were significantly higher in the patients with disease relapse than those with the first-episode disease. The levels of Foxp3, PD-1, PD-L1 and CD8 in the PBLCs were significantly higher, while the levels of RORγt mRNA and CD4 in the PBLCs were significantly lower in the case group than the healthy control group. In the case group, the levels of Foxp3, PD-1, PD-L1 and CD8 were significantly higher in the relapse group than in the first-episode disease group; The levels of RORγt mRNA and CD4 were significantly lower in the relapse group than the control group. In the patients with condyloma acuminatum, Foxp3 level in the PBLCs was significantly correlated with the levels of TLR9 and IRF-7 in the DCs. Conclusion In patients with condyloma acuminatum, Foxp3 level in the PBLCs is correlated with the changes in TLR9 and IRF-7 levels in the DCs, suggesting their roles all as stimulatory molecules that participate in the disease progression.