The interplay among Th17 and T regulatory cells in the immune dysregulation of chronic dermatophytic infection

The delineation of the pathogenic interaction between the host skin immune responses and dermatophytes has remained indigent. The obscure enigma in host-dermatophyte immunopathogenic interactions is the T regulatory (Treg) and T-helper (Th) 17 cell role in maintaining immune homeostasis. We attempted to understand the regulation and recognition of lineage-specific response in chronic dermatophytic skin infection patients. The percentages of Th17 (CD4+CD161+IL23R+) and Treg (CD4+CD25+FoxP3+) cell subpopulations in the peripheral circulation of thirty chronic dermatophytic skin infection patients and twenty healthy individuals was determined. The serum cytokine levels were estimated for disease correlation. The mean duration of the disease was 10.68 ± 8.72 months, with Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex as the major pathogen. Total serum IgE level of patients was significantly higher compared to healthy controls (305 ± 117 vs 98.53 ± 54.55 IU/ml; p