流式细胞术检测RA患者外周血CD4^+CD25^+FOXP3^+ Treg细胞及其GITR表达

Detection of CD4^+CD25^+FOXP3^+ regulatory T cells and expression of glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor(GITR) in peripheral blood of rheumatoid arthritis patients by flow cytometry

目的研究FOXP3和糖皮质激素诱导的肿瘤坏死因子受体(GITR)在类风湿关节炎(RA)患者外周血Treg细胞的表达并探讨其临床意义。方法用五色流式细胞术(FCM)检测40例健康体检者、61例RA患者外周血CD4+CD25+FOXP3+调节性T细胞(Treg)及其中GITR的表达情况。结果RA患者组FOXP3的平均荧光强度(MFI)低于健康对照组(P<0.05),CD4+CD25+FOXP3+Treg占CD4+T细胞的比例、CD4+CD25+FOXP3+Treg中GITR的表达率、GITR MFI和健康对照组相比无统计学差异(P>0.05);活动期RA患者的FOXP3 MFI和GITR MFI均显著低于非活动期组(P<0.01和P=0.032),CD4+CD25+FOXP3+Treg占CD4+T细胞中的比例、CD4+CD25+FOXP3+Treg中GITR的表达率与非活动期组相比无统计学差异(P>0.05)。结论RA患者的FOXP3表达低下,活动期组的FOXP3表达低于非活动期组,为其作为RA病情变化的判断指标提供进一步的证据。

Objective To explore the altered expression of FOXP3 and glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor （GITR） in rheumatoid arthritis （RA） patients and its clinical significance. Methods CD4^＋ CD25^＋ FOXP3^＋ regulatory T cells （Treg） and the expression of GITR in CD4^＋ CD25^＋ FOXP3^＋ Treg were determined by flow cytometry in 61 RA patients and 40 healthy volunteer controis. Results The mean fluorescence intensity （MFI） of FOXP3 in RA patients was lower than that in control group （P 〈0.05）, but there were no differences of CD4^＋ CD25^＋ FOXP3^＋ Treg proportion in CD4^＋ cells, GITR expression rate in CD4^＋ CD25^＋ FOXP3^＋ Treg, and MFI of GITR between RA group and healthy controls （ P 〉 0.05 ）. In active RA patients, the MFI of FOXP3 was significantly lower than that in inactive patients （P 〈 0.01 ）, and GITR was also lower （P = 0.032）, though there were no differences of CD4^＋ CD25^＋ FOXP3^＋ Treg proportion in CD4^＋ cells and GITR expression rate in CD4^＋ CD25^＋ FOXP3^＋ Treg between the active and inactive RA patients （P 〉0.05）. Conclusion FOXP3 was low expressed in RA. The expression of FOXP3 in active RA patients was lower than that in inactive patients, placed a suggestion for disease progress evaluation.