Phenotypic difference between CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ and CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells and its clinical relevance in patients with untreated new-onset lupus / 中华风湿病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare the phenotypes of abnormal CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells with traditional regulatory T cells (CD4+CD25+Foxp3+) in patients with untreated new-onset lupus (UNoL) and investigate their clinical relevance. Methods The expressions of surface markers (CD25, CD127, CCR4, GITR, CTLA-4) and intracellular marker(Foxp3) on the peripheral blood mononuclear cells from twenty-two UNoL patients were analyzed by flow cytometry analysis, and their clinical relevance were assessed. Results There were no significant differences between CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ and CD4+CD25+Foxp3- T cells in the expressions of GITR, CTLA--4 and CCR4 (P>0.05), but they were significantly lower than those of CD4+CD25+ Foxp3+ T cells in UNoL patients (P<0.01). The percentages of CD127low- in CD4+Foxp3+CD25high,CD4+Foxp3+ CD25low and CD4+Foxp3+CD25+ T cells were (93.8±3.5 )%, (93.7±2.3)% and (92.0±2.1)% respectively (P> 0.05), whereas the expressions of Foxp3 on CD4+CD127low- T subpopulations showed significant differences in CD4+CDI27low-CD25high (91.4±2.6)%, CD4+CD127low-CD25low (71.9±3.3)% and CD4+CD127low-CD25- (9.0± 2.2)% T cells(P<0.01 ). The frequency of CD+CCR4+CD25high T cells correlated negatively with SLEDAI (r=-0.695,P<0.001).and it was significantly lower in lupus nephritis patients(1.10±0.17)%compared with SLE patients without nephritis [(1.61±0.23)%,P<0.01]and healthy controls [(1.75±0.10)%,P<0.01], furthermore,the frequency of CD4+CCR4+CD25low-T cells in lupus nephritis was significantly higher than that in healthy controls[(11.5±2.3)%vs (8.0±1.0)%,P<0.01].Conclusion The increased CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells in the Untreated Newonset Lupus(UNoL)patients mimic activated T effector cells.CD4+CD25high-CD127low-T cells can be used to isolate live CD4+CD25highFoxp3+regulatory T cells.CCR4+regulatory T cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis.