The expression and significance of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic sclerosis / 中华风湿病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the phenotype and function of CD4 +CD25 + Treg cells in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and their relationship with fibrosis.Methods The proportion of Foxp3, CD127, CTLA-4 and CD69 on CD4+CD25+ Treg cells in peripheral blood were detect by flow cytometry;the levels of TGF-[1 and IL-10 in serum were detect by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in patients with SSc.The correlation between Treg cells and the score of chest HRCT, MRSS, and disease activity was analyzed.T test and Pearson correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis.Results ① Compare to the control group, the proportion of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells in peripheral blood of SSc patients was increased significantly(12.9±2.4 vs 14.9±2.2, t=2.63, P=-0.012), and the expression of CD69+, CTLA-4+ on CD4+CD25+ Treg cells was decreased significantly (P＜0.01).② Compare to the control group, the proportion of CD4+CD25+Foxp3 + cells and CD4+CD25+CDI27-cells in peripheral blood of SSc patients was increased significantly (respectively, 3.3±0.7 vs 5.0±0.7, 5.1±1.6 vs 7.6±2.0, t=7.03, 4.195;P＜0.01), but no correlation between them was detected.③ The level of TGF-β1 in the serum of the SSc patients was lower than that of the control group(86±29 vs 133±29 ng/ml, t=-5.026, P=0.000).However, IL-10 had no significant difference between the two groups.④ The proportion of CD4+CD25 +Foxp3 + cells and CD4~D25 +CD127-cells in peripheral blood of SSc patients was positively correlated with the scores of chest HRCT (respectively, r=-0.541, P=0.02;r=0.486, P=0.041), and no correlation was observed with ESR, CRP.In addition, CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ cells were associated with MRSS.Conclusion The proportion of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells in the peripheral blood of SSc patients is increased, but they alters the immune function.The different phenotypes of Treg cells of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ cells and CD4+CD25+CD127-cells in peripheral blood of SSc patients are increased significantly, which changes along with skin and lung fibrosis.The associated cytokine TGF-β1 is reduced, and IL-10 is not significantly changed.