Analysis of CD4^+CD25^+ Regulatory T Cells and Foxp3 mRNA in the Peripheral Blood of Patients with Asthma

The changes of CD4^＋CD25^＋ regulatory T cells （CD4^＋CD25^＋ Treg） and Foxp3 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells （PBMCs） from patients with asthma were investigated in order to elucidate the possible roles of CD4^＋CD25^＋ Treg in the development of asthma. The peripheral blood samples were collected from 29 healthy controls （normal control group） and 78 patients with asthma which included 30 patients in exacerbation group, 25 patients in persistent group, and 23 patients in remission group. By using flow cytometry and RT-PCR, the CD4^＋CD25^＋ Treg ratio and Foxp3 mRNA in PBMCs were detected. The CD4^＋CD25^＋ Treg ratio and Foxp3 mRNA in PBMCs of exacerbation and persistent groups were lower than that of remission and normal control groups （P〈0.05）. Although the CD4^＋CD25^＋ Treg ratio and Foxp3 mRNA of remission group were also lower than that of normal control group, there was no significant difference between them （P〉0.05）. As compared with persistent group, exacerbation group had lower CD4^＋CD25^＋ Treg ratio and Foxp3 mRNA （P〈0.05）. It was indicated that the decrease of CD4^＋CD25^＋ Treg ratio and its function in PBMCs may be responsible for pathogenesis of asthma.

Reduction of natural regulatory T cells in thymomas accompanying myasthenia gravis and its possible association with Foxp3 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin

Objective: To investigate the expression of both thymic regulatory T cells (CD4+CD25+Foxp3+cells, Treg) and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in thymomas accompanying myasthenia gravis. Methods: We used immunohistochemistry and real-time reverse trancription polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR) techniques to determine Foxp3+ Treg counts and the expression levels of Foxp3 mRNA and TSLP mRNA in thymomas of 23 MG patients and thymuses of 4 healthy controls. Results: The CD4+ Foxp3+ nTreg (natural regulatory T cells) counts in thymomas were significantly lower than those in normal thymuses (P<0.01), and the expression levels of Foxp3 mRNA and TSLP mRNA were also lower in thymomas(P<0.01). Among the thymoma types, type B1 thymoma had the highest Foxp3+ nTreg count and standard values of Foxp3 mRNA and TSLP mRNA. There was a strong positive correlation between the mRNA transcriptional levels of Foxp3 and TSLP. Conclusion: The insufficient expression of Foxp3 in thymoma, which may be caused by decreased transcription of TSLP, may result in the reduction of Tregs and cause autoimmune disorders.

Immunotherapy of rat glioma without accumulation of CD4^+CD25^+FOXP3^+ regulatory T cells

Immunotherapy may be used for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme; however, the induced immune response is inadequate when either T cells or dendritic cells are used alone. In this study we established a novel vaccine procedure in rats, using dendritic cells pulsed with C6 tumor cell lysates in combination with adoptive transfer of T lymphocytes from syngenic donors. On day 21 after tumor inoculation, all the rats were sacrificed, the brains were harvested for calculation of glioma volume, cytolytic T lymphocyte responses were measured by cytotoxic assay, and the frequency of regulatory T lymphocytes （CD4＋CD25~FOXP3~） in the peripheral blood was investigated by flow cytometric analysis. The survival rate of rats bearing C6 glioma was observed. Results showed that the co-immunization strategy had significant anti-tumor potential against the pre-established C6 glioma, and induced a strong cytolytic T lymphocyte response in rats. The frequency of peripheral blood CD4＊CD25＊FOXP3＊ regulatory T lymphocytes was significantly decreased following the combination therapy, and the rats survived for a longer period. Experimental findings indicate that the combined immunotherapy of glioma cell lysate-pulsed dendritic cell vaccination following adoptive transfer of T cells can effectively inhibit the growth of gliomas in rats, boost anti-tumor immunity and produce a sustained immune response while avoiding the accumulation of CD4＋CD25＋FOXP3＋ regulatory r lymphocytes.

Induction of CD4＋CD25＋Foxp3＋ regulatory T cell response by glatiramer acetate in type 1 diabetes

Glatiramer acetate （GA） is an immunomodulatory peptide drug used to treat multiple sclerosis. Its treatment effect has been expanded to other autoimmune conditions such as uveoretinitis, inflammatory bowel disease, graft re- jection and hepatic fibrosis. Here, we report that GA was effective in altering the clinical course of diabetes in cyclo- phosphamide （CY）-potentiated non-obese diabetic （CY-NOD） mice. Treatment with GA significantly reduced the dia- betic rate in the mice and ameliorated insulitis, which coincided with increased CD4＋CD25＋Foxp3＋ T cell response in treated mice. GA treatment led to increased expression of transcription factor Foxp3 and elevated production of interleukin-4 （IL-4） both in vivo and in vitro. It was evident that the effect of GA on up-regulation of Foxp3 was me- diated partially through IL-4. IL-4 was found to maintain Foxp3 expression and regulatory function of CD4＋CD25＋ regulatory T cells （Tregs）. This study provides new evidence that GA has treatment potential for type 1 diabetes through the induction of Tregs and that increased IL-4 production is partially responsible for the enhanced Treg＇s function in GA treatment.

HPV DNA负荷量、辅助性T细胞17、FoxP3+调节性T细胞及炎症因子与高危型HPV感染的相关性分析

目的探讨人乳头瘤病毒(HPV)DNA、辅助性T细胞17(Th17)、叉头状转录因子3阳性(FoxP3^(+))调节性T细胞(Treg)及宫颈灌洗液中炎症因子与高危型HPV感染的相关性,为高危型HPV感染防治提供新思路。方法将2020年9月至2021年2月该院收治的高危型HPV感染患者100例纳入研究作为研究组,然后将其中50例高危型HPV16/18阳性患者作为HPV16/18组,50例其他12种高危型阳性病例作为其他亚型组。另外,选取同期体检的健康女性作为对照组(n=50)。比较研究组和对照组HPV DNA负荷量、Th17、FoxP3^(+)Treg及宫颈灌洗液中炎症因子[白细胞介素(IL)-10、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)、IL-17A]水平,比较HPV16/18组和其他亚型组各项指标水平,比较不同宫颈病变患者各项指标水平。分析各项指标与高危型HPV感染、宫颈病变的相关性,以及对宫颈病变患者高危型HPV感染的诊断价值。结果研究组HPV DNA负荷量、Th17、FoxP3^(+)Treg及宫颈灌洗液中IL-10、TNF-α、IL-17A水平均高于对照组(P<0.05),HPV16/18组各项指标水平均高于其他亚型组(P<0.05)。不同宫颈病变患者各项指标水平比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。HPV DNA负荷量、FoxP3^(+)Treg、Th17及宫颈灌洗液中IL-10、TNF-α、IL-17A水平与高危型HPV感染分型(HPV16/18=1,其他亚型=2)均呈负相关(P<0.05),与宫颈病变(宫颈上皮内瘤变Ⅰ级=1,宫颈上皮内瘤变Ⅱ级=2,宫颈上皮内瘤变Ⅲ级=3,宫颈癌=4)均呈正相关(P<0.05)。各项指标联合诊断高危型HPV16/18阳性的曲线下面积(AUC)为0.911(95%CI:0.837~0.959),大于各指标单独诊断。结论高危型HPV感染患者HPV DNA负荷量、Th17、FoxP3^(+)Treg及炎症因子水平异常,与高危型HPV感染分型、宫颈病变密切相关,而且HPV DNA负荷量与Th17、FoxP3^(+)Treg、炎症因子相关,各项指标联合检测可为临床防治高危型HPV持续感染提供可靠依据。

Mechanism of T cell hyporesponsiveness to HBcAg is associated with regulatory T cells in chronic hepatitis B

AIM： To study the mechanisms of hyporesponsiveness of HBV-specific CD4^＋ T cells by testing TH1 and TH2 commitment and regulatory T cells. METHODS： Nine patients with chronic hepatitis B were enrolled. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with HBcAg or HBsAg to evaluate their potential to commit to TH1 and TH2 differentiation. HBcAg-specific activity of regulatory T cells was evaluated by staining with antibodies to CD4, CD25, CTLA-4 and interleukin-10. The role of regulatory T cells was further assessed by treatment with anti-interleukin-10 antibody and depletion of CD4^＋CD25^＋ cells. RESULTS： Level of mRNAs for T-bet, IL-12R β2 and IL-4 was significantly lower in the patients than in healthy subjects with HBcAg stimulation. Although populations of CD4^＋CD25^highCTLA-4^＋ T cells were not different between the patients and healthy subjects, IL-10 secreting cells were found in CD4^＋ cells and CD4^＋CD25^＋ cells in the patients in response to HBcAg, and they were not found in cells which were stimulated with HBsAg. Addition of anti-IL-10 antibody recovered the amount of HBcAgspecific TH1 antibody compared with control antibody （P 〈 0.01, 0.34% ± 0.12% vs 0.15% ± 0.04%）. Deletion of CD4^＋CD25^＋ T cells increased the amount of HBcAgspecific TH1 antibody when compared with lymphoo/tes reconstituted using regulatory T cells （P 〈 0.01, 0.03% ± 0.02% vs 0.18% ± 0.05%）.CONCLUSION： The results indicate that the mechanism of T cell hyporesponsiveness to HBcAg includes activation of HBcAg-induced regulatory T cells in contrast to an increase in TH2-committed cells in response to HBsAg.

Promises and paradoxes of regulatory T cells in inflammatory bowel disease

Since their discovery two decades ago,CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells(Tregs) have become the subject of intense investigation by immunologists. Unlike other T cells,which promote an immune response,Tregs actively inhibit inflammation when activated by their cognate antigen,thus raising hope that these cells could be engineered into a highly targeted,antigenspecific,immunosuppressant therapy. Although Tregs represent less than 10% of circulating CD4+T cells,they have been shown to play an essential role in preventing or limiting inflammation in a variety of animal models and human diseases. In particular,spontaneous intestinal inflammation has been shown to occur in the absence of Tregs,suggesting that there may be a Treg defect central to the pathogenesis of human inflammatory bowel disease(IBD). However,over the past decade,multiple groups have reported no qualitative or quantitative deficits in Tregs from the intestines and blood of IBD patients to explain why these cells fail to regulate inflammation in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. In this review,we will discuss the history of Tregs,what is known about them in IBD,and what progress and obstacles have been seen with efforts to employ them for therapeutic benefit.

Depletion of CD4^+CD25^+ regulatory T cells can promote local immunity to suppress tumor growth in benzo[a]pyrene-induced forestomach carcinoma

AIM： To elucidate the distribution of CD4^＋CD25^＋ regulatory T cells （Tregs） in different lymphoid tissues and its local enhancement on tumor growth before and after depletion of CD4^＋CD25^＋ Tregs. METHODS： Female ICR mice were garaged with benzo[a]pyrene （BaP） to induce forestomach carcinoma. CD4^＋CD25^＋ Tregs were intraperitoneally depleted with monoclonal antibody PC61. These mice were divided into BaP-only, BaP ＋ IgG, BaP ＋ PC61, and control groups. The forestomach of mice was dissected for histological analysis, and tunnel test was performed for apoptosis of tumor cells. CD4^＋CD25^＋ Tregs were sorted from different lymphoid tissues and expression of Foxp3, IL-10, and chemokine receptors was analyzed by flow cytometry, semi-quantitative and veal-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS： The mice gavaged with only BaP showed increased forestomach papilloma and carcinoma at wk 16 and 32. The proportion of CD4^＋CD25^＋ Tregs was significantly higher in peri-stomach regional lymph nodes than in other lymphoid tissues. These CD4^＋CD25^＋ Tregs in regional lymph nodes expressed higher levels of Foxp3 and IL-10, enriched in the CD62L-subset, and CCR1 and CCR5 chemokine receptors. In mice gavaged with BaP ＋ PC61, the number of tumor nodules and tumor volume decreased significantly with massive infiltrating cells and apoptosis of tumor cells. In the draining regional lymph nodes, the number of CD4^＋CD25^＋ Tregs also decreased significantly. CONCLUSION： Inducible and activated CD4^＋CD25^＋ Tregs in the draining regional lymph nodes suppress host local immunity during tumor growth. Depletion of CD4^＋CD25^＋ Tregs can promote host local immunity to suppress tumor growth.

Regulatory T Cells and Their Molecular Markers in Peripheral Blood of the Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

CD4＋CD25＋ regulatory T cells （Tregs） and the expression of their molecular markers （GITR, Foxp3） in peripheral blood of the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus （SLE） were investigated in order to reveal the pathogenesis of SLE on the cellular and molecular levels. The level of Tregs in peripheral blood was detected by flow cytometry. The expression levels of GITR and Foxp3 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells （PBMCs） were assayed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）. The level of IL-6 in the plasma was measured by ELISA. Comparisons were made among 3 groups： the active SLE group, the inactive SLE group, and normal control group. The level of Tregs in the active SLE group and the inactive SLE group was significantly lower than in the normal control group （P〈0.01）. The level of Tregs in the active group was lower than in the inactive group with the difference being not significant （P〉0.05）. The level of Tregs in SLE patients was significantly negatively correlated with the disease active index in SLE （SLEDAI） （r=-0.81, P〈0.01）. The expression levels of GITR mRNA in PBMCs of the active SLE group and the inactive SLE group were significantly higher than in the normal control group （P〈0.05）, and those of Foxp3 mRNA in SLE patients of both active and inactive SLE groups were significantly lower than in the normal control group （P〈0.05）. There was no significant difference in the expression of GITR and Foxp3 mRNA between the active SLE group and inactive SLE group （P〉0.05）. The plasma levels of IL-6 in both the inactive SLE group and active SLE group were significantly higher than in the normal control group （P〈0.01）. The plasma level of IL-6 in the active SLE group was sig- nificantly increased as compared with that in the inactive SLE group （P〈0.05）, and the plasma level of IL-6 in SLE was significantly positively correlated with SLEDAI scores （r=0.58, P〈0.01） and significantly negatively correlated with the ratio of CD4＋CD25＋ cells/CD4＋ cells （r=-0.389, P〈0.05）. It was concluded that the levels of Tregs and Foxp3 mRNA in peripheral blood of SLE patients were decreased and the levels of GITR mRNA and plasma IL-6 were increased. The Tregs and their molecular markers GITR, Foxp3 as well as the plasma IL-6 might play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Regulatory T cells in inflammatory bowel diseases and colorectal cancer

Regulatory T cells(T regs) are key elements in immunological self-tolerance.The number of T regs may alter in both peripheral blood and in colonic mucosa during pathological circumstances.The local cellular,microbiological and cytokine milieu affect immunophenotype and function of T regs.Forkhead box P3+ T regs function shows altered properties in inflammatory bowel diseases(IBDs).This alteration of T regs function can furthermore be observed between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis,which may have both clinical and therapeutical consequences.Chronic mucosal inflammation may also influence T regs function,which together with the intestinal bacterial flora seem to have a supporting role in colitis-associated colorectal carcinogenesis.T regs have a crucial role in the immunoevasion of cancer cells in sporadic colorectal cancer.Furthermore,their number and phenotype correlate closely with the clinical outcome of the disease,even if their contribution to carcinogenesis has previously been controversial.Despite knowledge of the clinical relationship between IBD and colitis-associated colon cancer,and the growing number of immunological aspects encompassing sporadic colorectal carcinogenesis,the molecular and cellular links amongst T regs,regulation of the inflammation,and cancer development are still not well understood.In this paper,we aimed to review the current data surrounding the role of T regs in the pathogenesis of IBD,colitis-associated colon cancer and sporadic colorectal cancer.

Downregulation of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells may underlie enhanced Th1 immunity caused by immunization with activated autologous T cells

Regulatory T cells （Treg） play important roles in immune system homeostasis, and may also be involved in tumor immunotolerance by suppressing Th1 immune response which is involved in anti-tumor immunity. We have previously reported that immunization with attenuated activated autologous T cells leads to enhanced anti-tumor immunity and upregulated Thl responses in vivo. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well understood. Here we show that Treg function was significantly downregulated in mice that received immunization of attenuated activated autologous T cells. We found that Foxp3 expression decreased in CD4＋CD25＋ T cells from the immunized mice. Moreover, CD4＋CD25＋Foxp3＋ Treg obtained from immunized mice exhibited diminished immunosuppression ability compared to those from naive mice. Further analysis showed that the serum of immunized mice contains a high level ofanti-CD25 antibody （about 30 ng/ml, p〈0.01 vs controls）. Consistent with a role ofanti-CD25 response in the downregulation of Treg, adoptive transfer of serum from immunized mice to naive mice led to a significant decrease in Treg population and function in recipient mice. The triggering of anti-CD25 response in immunized mice can be explained by the fact that CD25 was induced to a high level in the ConA activated autologous T cells used for immunization. Our results demonstrate for the first time that immunization with attenuated activated autologous T cells evokes anti-CD25 antibody production, which leads to impeded CD4＋CD25＋Foxp3＋ Treg expansion and function in vivo. We suggest that dampened Treg function likely contributes to enhanced Thl response in immunized mice and is at least part of the mechanism underlying the boosted anti-tumor immunity.

Changes of Regulatory T Cells in Graves' Disease

The immune mechanism of Graves＇ diseases （GD） and the roles of regulator T cells were investigated. In 32 patients with GD （GD group） and 20 healthy volunteers （control group）, flow cytometry was used to detect the proportion of CD4^＋CD25^＋ cells, MACS to isolate CD4^＋ CD25^＋ cells, RT-PCR to assay the expression of FOXP3, and ELISA to test the leyel of IL-10, respectively. It was found that there was no significant change in the proportion of CD4^＋CD25^＋ T cells between GD group and control group （P〉0.05）, while secretion of IL-10 and expression of FOXP3 in GD group were lower than control group （P〈0.01 and P〈0.05, respectively）. In conclusion, though the proportion of regulatory T cells of peripheral blood lymphocytes in the patients with GD, the functions of them were significantly weakened, which might be a pathogenic factor in GD.

Effect of CD4^+CD25^+ regulatory T cells in the development of anterior chamber-associated immune deviation

AIM: To investigate whether CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells play a role in the development of anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID). METHODS: The dynamic changes in the frequency of CD4(+)D25(+) T cells, CD4(+)D25(+) FoxP3(+) T cells and CD4(+)CD25(+) PD-1(+) T cells from spleens of mice with ACAID were analyzed by flow cytometry. Foxp3 mRNA expression in purified CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells was analyzed using real-time PCR. The suppressive effect of purified CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells on the proliferation of CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells was evaluated by [H-3] thymidine incorporation. A blocking experiment was performed to further address the role of CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells in ACAID. The expression of IL-10 in purified CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells was evaluated by ELISA. RESULTS: Increased frequencies of CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells, CD4(+)CD25(+) Foxp3(+) T cells and CD4(+)CD25(+) PD-1(+) T cells were observed in ACAID. The CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells from mice with ACAID showed enhanced suppressive effect on the proliferation of CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells. Treatment of BALB/c mice with anti-CD25 antibody after injection of OVA into the anterior chamber significantly inhibited the induction of ACAID. Furthermore, purified CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells from ACAID mice secreted IL-10. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that Treg cells are induced in the mice undergoing ACAID. These Treg cells may play a role in the development of ACAID.

Metabolic reprogramming drives homeostasis and specialization of regulatory T cells in cancer

Transcription factor forkhead box P3(Foxp3)+regulatory T(Treg)cells are receiving increasing attention because this unique subset of T cells is characterized by exerting negative regulatory function of cellular immune responses.The resultant suppression of anti-tumor immunity in the tumor microenvironment(TME)is regarded as a major obstacle to immunotherapies in a plethora of cancers.Thus,an integrated understanding of the intrinsic correlation between tumors and Treg cell biology is urgently required.This review focuses on the peculiar biochemical effects of tumor metabolic environments on Tregs and how Tregs orchestrate internal metabolic switches and altered metabolic pathways and molecules to survive and function after the remodeling of homeostasis and specialization,providing new directions for immunotherapies.

栀子苷调节PI3K/AKT/mTOR信号通路在动脉粥样硬化形成过程中对Th17/Treg功能的影响

目的:观察栀子苷对载脂蛋白E缺乏(ApoE^(-/-))小鼠Th17/调节性T(Treg)细胞失衡的影响及其作用机制。方法:将50只纯合子ApoE^(-/-)雌性小鼠随机分为对照组、模型组和栀子苷低剂量组、栀子苷中剂量组、栀子苷高剂量组。对照组小鼠喂养普通饲料,模型组和栀子苷组小鼠喂养高脂饲料。从第8周开始,栀子苷各剂量组每日灌胃栀子苷(25、50、100 mg/kg),连续8周。试验结束时,采用油红O染色评估主动脉及其根部动脉粥样硬化(AS)病变面积比。采用定量逆转录聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)分析主动脉组织肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素(IL)-6、IL-17A和IL-10 mRNA表达;采用流式细胞仪分析脾脏中Th17和Treg细胞百分比;蛋白免疫印迹法(Western Blot)检测主动脉组织磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶(PI3K)/蛋白激酶B(AKT)/哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶蛋白(mTOR)信号通路相关蛋白表达。结果:油红O染色病变显示,栀子苷中剂量组、栀子苷高剂量组病变百分比低于模型组(P<0.05)。与对照组比较,模型组主动脉TNF-α、IL-6和IL-17A mRNA表达水平升高(P<0.05);栀子苷各剂量组主动脉TNF-α、IL-6和IL-17A mRNA表达水平降低(P<0.05)。与对照组比较,模型组主动脉抗炎细胞因子IL-10 mRNA表达水平降低(P<0.05);栀子苷各剂量组主动脉抗炎细胞因子IL-10 mRNA表达水平升高(P<0.05)。与对照组比较,模型组小鼠脾脏中Th17细胞百分比升高,Treg细胞百分比降低(P<0.05)。栀子苷处理恢复了AS小鼠Th17和Treg细胞的平衡。栀子苷抑制PI3K的表达及AKT和mTOR的磷酸化,MHY1485(mTOR活化剂)减弱了栀子苷对T细胞分化的影响。结论:栀子苷抗AS作用机制可能与抑制PI3K/AKT/mTOR信号引起的Treg细胞增多和Th17细胞减少有关。

慢性阻塞性肺疾病的炎症反应与Foxp3、T-bet、GATA3表达失衡有关

目的观察慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)大鼠调节性T细胞(Treg)、叉头状转录因子3(Foxp3)、T-bet、GATA连接蛋白3(GATA3)的变化。方法将30只大鼠随机分为对照组、模型组,每组15只。模型组大鼠采用烟熏加脂多糖(LPS)气管滴入方法建立COPD模型。模型复制成功第28天,采用ELISA检测大鼠血清、支气管肺泡灌洗液(BALF)白介素4(IL-4)、γ干扰素(IFN-γ)水平,流式细胞术检测外周血Treg表达,分别采用逆转录PCR及Western blot法检测肺组织Foxp3、T-bet、GATA3mRNA和蛋白表达。结果模型组大鼠肺泡腔及肺间质内大量炎性细胞浸润,肺组织结构破坏。与对照组比较,模型组大鼠血清IFN-γ表达升高(P<0.01),IL-4、CD4+CD25+Treg、CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg降低(P<0.05);模型组Foxp3、GATA-3mRNA、蛋白表达降低,T-bet mRNA和蛋白升高(P<0.01)。相关性分析显示,T-bet、GATA-3、Foxp3基因和蛋白表达与IL-4、IFN-γ分泌相关(P<0.05)。结论 COPD炎症反应与T-bet、GATA-3、Foxp3表达失衡有一定关系。

转录因子T-bet、GATA-3、FoxP3及CD4~＋CD25~＋调节性T细胞在儿童过敏性紫癜发病机制中的作用

本研究旨在探讨转录因子T-bet、GATA-3和CD4+CD25+调节性T细胞及其转录因子FoxP3在儿童过敏性紫癜(HSP)发病机制中的作用。2009年2月-2010年2月在本院收治的46例急性期HSP患儿(HSP组)及30例健康对照儿童(对照组)纳入研究。采用SYBR GreenⅠ实时荧光定量PCR方法检测外周血单个核细胞T-bet、GATA-3及FoxP3 mRNA的表达。运用流式细胞术检测外周血中T淋巴细胞亚群CD4+CD25+的表达。结果表明,HSP组患儿GATA-3 mRNA相对表达水平(964.30±655.18)显著高于对照组儿童GATA-3 mRNA相对表达水平(78.09±57.20,P<0.01)。HSP组患儿T-bet mRNA(53.98±35.79)、FoxP3 mRNA(32.17±23.04)和CD4+CD25+(5.34±2.51)相对表达水平低于对照组儿童T-bet mRNA(181.56±96.90)、FoxP3 mRNA(147.91±99.15)和CD4+CD25+(7.85±1.97)相对表达水平(P<0.01)。结论:HSP患儿急性期存在Th1特异性转录因子T-betmRNA表达下调,Th2特异性转录因子GATA-3 mRNA表达上调。HSP患儿急性期存在CD4+CD25+调节性T细胞及其特异性转录因子FoxP3 mRNA表达下调,调节性T细胞的减少及由此引发的免疫抑制效应不足可能是HSP急性期免疫失衡的重要原因之一。本研究为从调节性T细胞及其调控的分子机制角度进一步阐明儿童HSP的发病机制提供了实验依据。

T-bet、GATA-3、FoxP3及CD_4^+CD_(25)^+调节性T细胞在AA发病机制中的作用

目的探讨转录因子T-bet、GATA-3和CD+4CD+25调节性T细胞及其转录因子FoxP3在再生障碍性贫血(AA)发病机制中的作用。方法选择AA患者27例(AA组)、体检健康者25例(对照组),采用RT-PCR技术检测两组外周血单个核细胞(PBMCs)中Th1、Th2细胞及CD4+CD2+5调节性T细胞特异性转录因子T-bet、GATA-3、FoxP3 mR-NA的表达,运用流式细胞术检测外周血中T淋巴细胞亚群,ELISA法检测血浆中Th1和Th2类细胞因子IFN-γ、IL-4水平。结果与对照组相比,AA组的血浆T-bet mRNA相对表达量升高(P<0.01),GATA-3与FoxP3 mRNA相对表达量降低(P<0.05,P<0.01);AA组外周血中CD+3、CD+3CD+8T细胞占淋巴细胞的百分比较对照组升高(P均<0.05),CD+3CD+4、CD+4CD+25T细胞占淋巴细胞的百分比和CD+4/CD+8值较对照组降低(P<0.05或P<0.01);AA组血浆中IFN-γ水平及IFN-γ/IL-4高于对照组(P均<0.01)。结论 AA患者存在CD+4CD+25调节性T细胞及其特异性转录因子FoxP3 mRNA表达下调,调节性T细胞的减少及由此引起免疫抑制效应不足可能是AA发生的重要原因之一。

急慢性MCMV感染对小鼠脾细胞Foxp3/T-bet/GATA-3蛋白表达水平的影响

目的:在整体水平研究鼠巨细胞病毒(MCMV)感染对小鼠辅助性T细胞亚群Th1、Th2和调节性T细胞(Treg)分化特异性转录因子T-bet、GATA-3和Foxp3蛋白表达水平的影响。方法:建立MCMV播散型感染模型,依据主要脏器内病毒滴度,确定感染后28天为本模型急、慢性期界定点。42只模型鼠分别于接种MCMV Smith株后第1、3、7、14、28、45天和60天各处死6只,分离脾细胞;另设42只正常小鼠作为模拟感染对照。Western blot法检测脾细胞中特异转录因子T-bet、GATA-3和Foxp3蛋白表达水平。结果:MCMV感染后第3天T-bet蛋白表达显著增高达峰值,与模拟感染对照组比较有显著差异(P<0.01),随后下降,第28天后降至模拟感染对照组相当水平;而GATA-3蛋白表达在感染后第3天开始升高,第7天达峰值(P<0.01),第14天开始缓慢下降,但至第60天仍显著高于模拟感染对照组(P<0.05);Foxp3蛋白表达在感染后7天明显低于模拟感染对照组,第28天降至最低(P<0.01),第45天和60天表达明显上调,并显著高于模拟感染对照组水平(P<0.05)。结论:感染急性期,MCMV上调Th1/Th2特异性转录因子T-bet和GATA-3的蛋白表达;感染慢性期,MCMV诱导Treg特异性转录因子Foxp3蛋白表达上调,同时显著抑制T-bet和GATA-3蛋白表达,提示CMV诱导Foxp3表达增加可能是其抑制宿主抗病毒免疫,导致慢性持续性感染的重要原因。

抑制miR-133b通过靶向FOXP3对PD大鼠调节性T淋巴细胞、炎性反应和神经元凋亡的影响

目的探究抑制微小RNA(microRNA,miR)-133b通过靶向叉头盒蛋白3(forkhead box protein 3,FOXP3)对帕金森病(Parkinson's disease,PD)大鼠调节性T细胞(regulatory T cells,Treg)的影响。方法32只PD模型大鼠随机分为PD组和PD+miR-133b antagomir组(n=16),健康大鼠16只作为对照组。尾静脉注射miR-133b antagomir(300µg)来抑制miR-133b的水平。检测和比较各组大鼠神经功能、黑质损伤、细胞凋亡、炎性反应、Treg细胞水平、miR-133b、FOXP3 mRNA和蛋白表达水平;通过双荧光素酶报告验证miR-133b和FOXP3的靶向关系。结果PD组的逃避潜伏期、旋转速率、细胞凋亡情况、IL-6、miR133b水平显著高于对照组,穿越次数、IL-10、FOXP3 mRNA和蛋白表达量显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。PD+miR-133b antagomir组的逃避潜伏期、旋转速率、细胞凋亡情况、IL-6、miR-133b水平显著低于PD组,穿越次数、IL-10、FOXP3 mRNA和蛋白表达量显著高于PD组(P<0.05)。miR-133b可与FOXP3靶向结合,提高miR-133b的水平显著抑制FOXP3 mRNA和蛋白表达(P<0.05)。结论抑制miR-133b的水平会促进FOXP3蛋白的表达量,恢复PD大鼠模型中Treg水平,抑制黑质组织的炎性反应,缓解细胞凋亡,保护神经功能。