ABSTRACT
It is now established that CD4(+)CD25(+)regulatory T (Treg) cells expressing transcription factor FOXP3, a regulatory subpopulation of T cells, is indispensable for the maintenance of immunological self-tolerance and immune homeostasis. FOXP3 expression in Treg cells is specific and it is the key control factor for the development, activation and function of Treg cells. At present, CD4(+)FOXP3(+)T lymphocytes are often used to define Treg cells for scientific research. But recent studies show that human CD4(+)FOXP3(+)T cells are phenotypically and functionally heterogeneous, including suppressive and non suppressive T cells. The different functions of these cell subsets can be distinguished by phenotypic differences. This review discusses the recent research progress about phenotypic characteristics and functional heterogeneity of CD4(+)FOXP3(+)T cell subsets.
Subject(s)
Humans , Forkhead Transcription Factors , Allergy and Immunology , T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory , Allergy and ImmunologyABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to investigate the circulating levels of IL-11 in the patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (CITP), and its significance, and to evaluate the curative effect of rhIL-11 on CITP. The level of IL-11 in patients with CITP was determined by ELISA before and after treatment, respectively. 1.5 mg of rhIL-11 were injected subcutaneously, once a day, continuously for 14 days as one course, treatment time 1 - 2 courses as total. The results showed that the higher blood IL-11 level was found in CITP patients than that in controls (P < 0.01) and during the course of treatment the number of platelets in peripheral blood of patients with CITP parallelled to the level of IL-11. The platelet counts were obviously increased in all CITP patients after rhIL-11 treatment. It is concluded that the serum level of IL-11 in patients is correlated to the number of platelets in patients. rhIL-11 can be used as an effective treatment for CITP.
