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.

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.

Alterations of peripheral CD4^(+)CD25^(+)Foxp3^(+)T regulatory cells in mice with STZ-induced diabetes

Complications arising from abnormal immune responses are the major causes of mortality and morbidity in diabetic patients.CD4^(+)CD25^(+)T regulatory cells(Tregs)play pivotal roles in controlling immune homeostasis,immunity and tolerance.The effect of hyperglycemia on CD4^(+)CD25^(+)Tregs has not yet been addressed.Here we used streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic mice to study the effects of long-term hyperglycemia on CD4^(+)CD25^(+)Tregs in vivo.Four months after the onset of diabetes,the frequency of CD4^(+)CD25^(+)Foxp3^(+)T regulatory cells was significantly elevated in the spleen,peripheral blood lymphocytes(PBLs),peripheral lymph nodes(pLNs)and mesenteric LNs(mLNs).CD4^(+)CD25^(+)Tregs obtained from mice with diabetes displayed defective immunosuppressive functions and an activated/memory phenotype.Insulin administration rescued these changes in the CD4^(+)CD25^(+)Tregs of diabetic mice.The percentage of thymic CD4^(+)CD25^(+)naturally occurring Tregs(nTregs)and peripheral CD41Helios1Foxp31 nTregs were markedly enhanced in diabetic mice,indicating that thymic output contributed to the increased frequency of peripheral CD4^(+)CD25^(+)Tregs in diabetic mice.In an in vitro assay in which Tregs were induced fromCD4^(+)CD25^(+)T cells by transforming growth factor(TGF)-b,high glucose enhanced the efficiency of CD4^(+)CD25^(+)Foxp3^(+)T inducible Tregs(iTregs)induction.In addition,CD4^(+)CD25^(+)T cells from diabetic mice were more susceptible to CD4^(+)CD25^(+)Foxp3^(+)TiTreg differentiation than those cells from control mice.These data,together with the enhanced frequency of CD4^(+)CD25^(+)Foxp3^(+)T iTregs in the periphery of mice with diabetes,indicate that enhanced CD4^(+)CD25^(+)Foxp3^(+)T iTreg induction also contributes to a peripheral increase in CD4^(+)CD25^(+)Tregs in diabetic mice.Our data show that hyperglycemia may alter the frequency of CD4^(+)CD25^(+)Foxp3^(+)T Tregs in mice,which may result in late-state immune dysfunction in patients with diabetes.

不同程度的非酒精性脂肪肝患者CD4^+CD25^+Foxp3T细胞的检测及其意义

目的探讨不同程度的非酒精性脂肪肝患者的CD 4+CD 25+Foxp 3T细胞水平的变化。方法应用流式细胞术检测不同程度的非酒精性脂肪肝60例患者和20例健康体检者外周血的CD 4+CD 25+和CD 4+CD 25+Foxp 3的比例。结果非酒精性脂肪肝组外周血CD 4+CD 25+细胞占CD 4+的比例为8.53±1.64%,显著低于健康对照组的11.4±2.17%,P<0.01;且非酒精性脂肪肝患者病情越重,CD 4+CD 25+Foxp 3占CD 4+的比例越低(P<0.05)。结论非酒精性脂肪肝患者血清调节性T细胞百分数下降水平与脂肪肝程度呈正相关,CD 4+CD 25+Foxp 3T调节性T细胞减少可能打破了免疫耐受,参与了非酒精性脂肪肝患者的发病。

Association of T regulatory cells with natural course and response to treatment with interferon-α in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection

Background Regulatory T cell populations, particularly CD4＋CD25＋ T regulatory cells, have been implicated in the persistence of hepatitis B virus （HBV） infection. However, no clear relationship has been established between the frequency of CD4~CD25~ T regulatory cells in the peripheral blood and either the disease phases in the natural history of chronic HBV infection or in the response to interferon-a therapy. Methods In the present study, three different common markers of CD4＋CD25＋ T regulatory cells were used to determine the numbers of T regulatory cells in healthy controls and in patients with chronic HBV infection. Results No significant difference was found when samples were gated for CD25hi and CD25＋FoxP3＋ T cells. A significant correlation was found between the number of CD4＋ Treg cells that gated with CD25＋FoxP3＋ and CD25＋CD127low/- in healthy controls and in patients with chronic hepatitis B （CHB） （r=0.67, 0.59; P 〈0.01）. The percentages of Treg cells were （8.56±2.01）% in asymptomatic carriers （Asc）, （8.74±3.04）% in inactive HBsAg carriers, （10.7±2.93）% in CHB and （7.42±1.28）% in healthy controls （F=-11.1, P 〈0.001）. The percentage of Treg cells in patients with CHB was higher than in asymptomatic HBV patients, inactive HBsAg carriers, or healthy controls （P 〈0.01）. The proportion of CD4＋CD25＋CD127 low/T cells in patients who responded to interferon-（] was （11.9±3.3）%, （9.1±2.4）% and （9.0±2.9）% at baseline, week 12 and week 24 after treatment, respectively （Z=2.42, P〈0.05; Z=2.67, P〈0.01）. Conclusions These results suggest that the proportion of the CD4＋CD25＋ regulatory T cells might be affected by the application of different markers in process to detect T regulatory cells. The frequency of Treg cells was increased in patients with CHB, which might be associated with the disease activity of these patients and contribute to prevention of extensive liver damage. A decline in Treg cells at week 12 of treatment might be associated with a better response to treatment with interferon-α.