原发性干燥综合征患者外周血CD4^+CD25^+CD127^(low/-) T细胞的检测及意义

Frequency and significance of CD4^+CD25^+CD127^(low/-) T cells in the peripheral blood of patients with primary Sjgren's syndrome

目的检测原发性干燥综合征(pSS)患者外周血中调节性T细胞(Treg细胞)的表达,并对Treg细胞的新旧标记进行比较。方法采用流式细胞术检测25例未经治疗pSS患者和24例正常人外周血中CD4+CD25highT细胞、CD4+CD25+FOXP3+T细胞及CD4+CD25+CD127low/-T细胞的百分率,同时检测患者临床活动指标(如抗SSA和抗SSB抗体、免疫球蛋白、唾液和泪液流率、唇腺病理等)并进行相关性分析。结果未治疗pSS患者外周血CD4+CD25+CD127low/-T细胞和CD4+CD25+FOXP3+T细胞的百分率均显著低于正常对照组(均P<0.01),而CD4+CD25highT细胞水平与正常对照组相比差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);未治疗pSS患者和对照组外周血中,CD4+CD25+CD127low/-T细胞与CD4+CD25+FOXP3+T细胞的表达之间均存在显著正相关性(均P<0.01);这三群细胞均与患者的抗SSA和抗SSB抗体、免疫球蛋白水平无相关性(均P>0.05),与唾液和泪液流率也无相关性(均P>0.05),仅CD4+CD25+CD127low/-T细胞与患者的ESR水平呈正相关(r=0.594,P=0.025)。应用泼尼松(20mg/d)治疗3个月后这三群细胞的百分率均明显增加。结论pSS患者外周血CD4+CD25+CD127low/-T细胞的表达降低,并且与CD4+CD25+FOXP3+T细胞呈显著正相关性,提示CD127可能是pSS患者中Treg细胞研究中较好的表面标记。

Objective To investigate the expression of regulatory T cells （Treg） in the peripheral blood of patients with primary Sjogren＇s syndrome （pSS） and compare markers of Treg. Methods Selected 25 untreated pSS patients and 24 healthy controls. Frequencies of CD4^＋CD25^＋CD127^low/^- T cells, CD4^＋CD25^hish T cells and CD4^＋ CD25^＋ FOXP3^＋T cells in their peripheral blood were analyzed by 3-color flow eytometry. Anti-SSA, anti-SSB, IgG, IgA, IgM, ESR, CRP and the salivary flow rate were measured. Schirmer＇s test was used to detect the tear flow rate. Results The percents of CD4^＋CD25^＋CD127^low/^- T cells and CD4^＋ CD25^＋ FOXP3^＋ T cells in untreated pSS patients were significantly lower than healthy controls （P 〈 0. 01 ）, but the percent of CD4^＋ CD25^high T cells didn＇t show significant changes（P 〉0. 05 ）. In the peripheral blood of pSS patients and healthy controls, CD4^＋CD25^＋CD127^low/^- T cells was positively associated with CD4^＋ CD25^＋ FOXP3^＋ T cells（ P 〈 0. 01 ）. All three group cells were not correlated with levels of the tear flow rate, salivary flow rate, anti-SSA/SSB antibodies, IgG, IgA and IgM （P 〉 0.05）, only CD4^＋CD25^＋CD127^low/^- T cells was positively correlated with ESR level（ r = 0. 594, P = 0. 025 ）. After 3 months treated with prednisone（20 mg/d）, the percents of CD4^＋CD25^＋CD127^low/^- T cells, CD4 ＋ CD25hish T cells and CD4^＋ CD25^ ＋ FOXP3^＋T cells were significantly increased. Conclusion CD4^＋CD25^＋CD127^low/^- T cells are decreased in the peripheral blood of pSS and are positively correlated with CD4^＋ CD25^＋ FOXP3^＋ T cells, it suggests that CD127 may be a better surface marker for Treg cells in pSS patients.