ABSTRACT
Objective To study the characteristics of T regulatory cells (Treg) in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), and to analyze the significance of Treg in PBC. Methods Peripheral blood Treg cells of 27 PBC patients and 14 healthy controls were detected by tricolour flowcytometry. Simultaneously the expression of forkhead box p3 (Foxp3) mRNA was determined by real-time RT-PCR assay. The expression of Foxp3 positive T cells in liver was exmined by immunohistochemistry. Results The percentage of Treg in the peripheral blood was lower in PBC (P<0.01) than in healthy control group. The mRNA expression of Foxp3 had no significant difference (P>0.05) between the two groups. The infiltration of Foxp3 positive T cells in liver tissue was different in different pathological stages and different degree of inflammation of the portal area. Conclusion The possible reason for Treg decreasing in the peripheral blood of PBC and Treg increasing in local inflammatory portal area of liver is the result of local inflammation which then lead to migration of peripheral Treg in autoimmunity.
