CD4+ CD25high regulatory T cell frequency in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with neurosyphilis / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the phenotypes of lymphocytes in cerebrospinal fluid derived from the patients with neurosyphilis. Methods Samples of cerebrospinal fluid from 12 patients with neurosyphilis and 20 patients with latent syphilis were collected and analyzed by flow cytometry for CD4 and CD25 expression. Results There was a significant increase in the number of white blood cells in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with neurosyphilis. FACS analysis showed that most leukocytes were lymphocytes predominated with CD4 + T cells in neurosyphilis patients which were almost 4 times more than that in latent syphilis. However, there was a significant decrease in the proportion of CD4+ CD25high regulatory T cells (Tr) in neurosyphilis patients compared with that in latent syphilis patients. Conclusion A dramatic increase in CD4+ T cell frequency suggested its pathogenic role in neurosyphilis, whereas a decrease in CD25high Tr frequency indicated that CD4 + CD25high Tr cells might play an important role in immune homeostasis of central nervous system.