[Circulating populations of CD4+ CD25+ CD127- regulatory t lymphocytes in peripheral blood of allergic asthmatic children]

OBJECTIVE

To carry out a preliminary analysis on the Treg lymphocyte counts present in the peripheral blood of allergic asthmatic children from the city of Cartagena, Colombia, compared to healthy controls.

METHODS

We compared cytometry counts of ten asthmatic patients (age 7-16 years) and seven healthy controls (6-12 years), recruited in the city of Cartagena. Peripheral blood samples were stained using Cytek's 14-color cFluor Immunoprofiling kit (Cytek® cFluor® Immunoprofiling Kit 14 Color RUO kit), and analyzed on a Northern Lights™ spectral cytometer (Cytek® Biosciences, Fremont, CA, USA), to read 50.000 events per sample. The data obtained were analyzed in SpectroFlo® and FlowJo. The study was approved by the ethics committee of the University of Cartagena (SGR, Grant BPIN2020000100405).

RESULTS

The frequency of CD3+, CD4+, CD25+, CD127- Tregs was 11% of all CD4+ T cells, with a range of minimum 8,1% and maximum 17,7%. There was no significant difference in the proportion of Tregs between allergic asthmatic patients and healthy controls (P = 0,2).

CONCLUSIONS

With this preliminary sample size, no significant differences were found in the Treg lymphocyte population between allergic asthmatic patients and healthy controls. The 14-color multiplexed panel is a useful tool not only to count CD3+ and CD4+ populations, but also to obtain the percentage of regulatory T cells using cell surface markers.

Inhibitory activity of FOXP3+ regulatory T cells reveals high specificity for displaying immune tolerance in remission state rheumatoid arthritis

Immune regulation status may indicate immunological remission in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the Regulatory T cell (Treg) properties, together with 14 plasma cytokines levels between active RA and clinical remission patients. Peripheral blood (PB) Foxp3+ Treg was collected from RA patients for determination of Treg inhibitory activity using a co-culture system. Other PB T cell types and plasma cytokines were determined by flow-cytometry. The Treg results were analyzed according to the disease activity score-28 (DAS28). Then sensitivity and specificity were calculated for the indication of the remission status. The number and inhibitory activity of Treg are higher in the clinical remission as compared to the active RA (p value < 0.0001). Also, Treg: CD4+CD25+CD127+ cell ratio demonstrates the similar result (p value < 0.05). Treg inhibitory activity is inversely correlated with the DAS28. Specificity and positive likelihood ratio of inhibitory activity for indicating remission status are 92.31% (95% CI 63.97-99.81) and 11.14 (95% CI 1.67-74.14), respectively. Treg inhibitory activity is a promising prognostic marker and probably represents the immunological remission status in RA.

Expression of CD4+CD25+CD127Low regulatory T cells and cytokines in peripheral blood of patients with primary liver carcinoma

Objective: To assess the clinical utility of the ratio of CD4+CD25+CD127^low regulatory T cells (Tregs) in subjects at high risk of HCC, investigate the relationship between the percentage of Tregs and the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and interleukin (IL)-10 in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma before and after treatment. Methods: Peripheral venous blood was collected from patients with liver cancer before and after treatment. The proportion of CD4+CD25+CD127^low Tregs was detected by flow cytometry. The levels of TGF-β1 and IL-10 in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and were compared with healthy subjects as a control group. Results: The proportion of CD4+CD25+CD127^low to CD4+T lymphocytes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma was significantly higher than that in healthy controls (P<0.01). The proportion of CD4+CD25+CD127^lowTregs, whose AUC of ROC curve was 0.917, could effectively separate the HCC patients from the healthy subjects with a diagnostic sensitivity of 90%, specificity of 80%. The proportion of CD4+CD25+CD127^low to CD4+T lymphocytes and the levels of TGF-β1 and IL-10 in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after the operation and chemotherapy were significantly lower than those before treatment (P<0.05).The proportion of CD4+CD25+CD127^lowTregs was positively correlated with the concentrations of TGF-β1 and IL-10 before and after treatment of primary liver cancer (P<0.05). Conclusion: CD4+CD25+CD127^lowTregs may be a significant predictor of HCC biopsy outcome and play an inhibitory role on effector T cells by regulating cytokines.

Investigating the exon 6 sequence changes of interleukin 7 receptor A (IL7RA) gene in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Interleukin 7 receptor alpha (IL7RA) gene that encodes a subunit of IL7 receptor has been reported to be associated with different immunologic disease.

OBJECTIVE

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients have shown an aberrant blood level of soluble form of IL7R protein. The genomic changes in the sequence of this gene have been suggested to be correlated with its altered splicing specially, variants in the exon 6 of the gene have been reported to influence the maintenance or skipping of this exon and control the soluble or insoluble form of the final product. In order to evaluate this changes in the IL7RA gene and to determine a possible correlation between these changes and the MS susceptibility the whole sequence of the exon 6 and 7 and their flanking sequences were analyzed.

METHODS

In this regard, we investigate the sequence changes of the exon 6 and 7 of the IL7RA gene in 75 relapsing-remitting MS patients and compare the results with 75 healthy control using sequence analyzing.

RESULTS

The results of the sequence analysis were used in two aspects. The allelic and genotypic estimated frequencies of a reported risk variant rs6897932 in patients and controls in our population confirmed its association with the disease (P= 0.009, OR = 6.273, for TT genotype). Also, we report a possible hazardous cutoff for changes in a potential exon splicing silencer element (ESS (nt. 20-24)) and its correlation with rs6897932 to confer the risk of developing MS.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion our results confirm the association between IL7RA exon 6 sequence changes and increased susceptibility for multiple sclerosis.

Decreased Frequencies of Peripheral Blood CD4+CD25+CD127-Foxp3+ in Patients with Graves' Disease and Graves' Orbitopathy: Enhancing Effect of Insulin Growth Factor-1 on Treg Cells

Graves' orbitopathy (GO) is characterized by orbital T cell infiltration. We evaluated the regulatory T (Treg) cell fractions induced with IGF-1 in Graves' disease (GD) with and without GO. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from 13 patients with GD without eye manifestations; 10 patients with active GO; and 12 patients with nodular goiter (NG). All the patients from GD, GO, and NG were subclinical hyperthyroid. We analyzed the expression of Treg cell markers (CD4, CD25, CD127^-, Foxp3) on T cells and their ability to respond to IGF-1 stimulation. In patients with GD without GO, we found lowered percentages of CD4⁺ Foxp3⁺ cells, as compared to nodular goiter 1.77 vs. 5.42% (p=0.0276). Similarly, significantly reduced frequencies of CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^-Foxp3⁺ and CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^- cells were observed in GD patients as compared to nodular goiter patients with hyperthyreosis, (0.7 vs. 1.48%) (p=0.0071) and (14.5 vs. 37.2%) (p=0.0051), respectively. In GO with active GO, only the percentage of CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^- cells was found to be decreased versus nodular goiter (9.35 vs. 37.2) (p=0.0275). Stimulation of PBMC derived from GO patients with IGF-1 resulted in significant increase of frequency of both CD4⁺ Foxp3⁺ and CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^- Foxp3 cells. Decreased frequencies of peripheral blood CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^-Foxp3⁺ in patients with GD and GO could be an useful marker of autoimmune process and perhaps a possible target for future therapies. This is the first study demonstrating Treg-enhancing effects of IGF-1. Thus IGF-1 can be accounted for modulating Treg cell-related action in GO.

[SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION AND COMPROMISED INTESTINAL BARRIER DURING SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF HIV INFECTION]

The relationship between immunity disorders, destruction of intestinal barrier and development of systemic inflammation during antiviral therapy in patients with HIV infection is a topical issue in terms of suppression of virus replication and reduction of its role in the pathological process.

STUDY OBJECT

Blood of HIV-infected patients given antiretroviral therapy (n = 21) and non-infected volunteers (n = 20).

METHODS

Identification of cells among CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes expressing markers of activation (CD38, HLA-DR), depletion (PD-1), and interleukin (IL) 7 receptor (CD127); measurement of blood levels of IL-6, neopterin, soluble CD14 (sCD14), intestinal fatty acid-binding peptide (I-FABP), and bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Correlation analysis of the dependence between cell immunity and systemic inflammation was performed.

RESULTS

HIV-infected patients had more activated CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes and CD4⁺ T-cells expressing PD-1 marker than non-infected subjects but less CD4⁺ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes expressing CD127. Blood IL-6, neopterin, soluble CD14, I-FABP and bacterial lipopolysaccharide levels in the former were higher than in the latter HIV-infected patients showed significant correlation of cell immunity parameters with blood neopterin and FABP levels.

CONCLUSION

The process of activation, depletion, and regeneration of T-lymphocytes in. HIV infection are related to the destruction of intestinal barrier and systemic macrophage activation.

Combination of CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(-) regulatory T cells with MLC-BE and BE-Ab2: an efficient evaluation of the therapy of paternal lymphocyte induced immunization in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion patients

The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the immune tolerance status of patients suffered from unexplained spontaneous abortion (URSA) before and after treatment with paternal lymphocyte induced immunization (PLII) four times, and its relationship to the pregnancy outcome. 168 URSA patients were included in the present study. Among 168 couples, 138 couples were conceived again, of whom 86 were successfully pregnant till 20 gestational weeks, 31 cases again failed in the first trimester, 21 cases were still under follow-up, another 30 cases still had not conceived. Both the level of one way mixed lymphocyte culture blocking efficiency (MLC-BE) and anti-idio blocking antibody (BE-Ab2) were markedly elevated in succeeded group after PLII. In contrast, although a significant increase could be observed in the failed group after treatment, the elevation of BE-Ab2 was much lower than that in successful group. PLII therapy significantly up-regulated the percentage of peripheral CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(-) regulatory T cells (Tregs) in successfully pregnant women; however, there was no significant change of Tregs in pregnancy loss cases although receiving PLII therapy. These results suggested a positive correlation between higher frequency of Tregs and rate of successful pregnancies. The sensitivity and specificity of combination of Tregs with MLC-BE and BE-Ab2 were 81.8% and 81.3%, respectively. Therefore, the percentage of Tregs in peripheral blood may hopefully serve as a potential biomarker for monitoring the efficacy of therapy in URSA patients. Combination of Tregs with MLC-BE and BE-Ab2 may expect to better evaluate the efficacy of PLII in URSA patients.

[Changes to CD4(+)CD25(high+)CD127(low) regulatory T cells in peripheral blood from children with bronchiolitis, and its clinical significance]

OBJECTIVE

To study changes to CD4(+)CD25(high+)CD127(low) regulatory T cells (Treg) in peripheral blood from children with bronchiolitis, and to explore its clinical significance.

METHODS

Thirty-one children with bronchiolitis and aged under two years were randomly enrolled as the bronchiolitis group, and 25 under two-year-olds with bronchopneumonia were randomly enrolled as the bronchopneumonia group. A further twenty-five children with non-infectious diseases such as hernia and renal calculus served as the control group. The level of CD4(+)CD25(high+)CD127(low) Treg in peripheral blood was measured by multi-color detection and multi-parameter flow cytometry.

RESULTS

The proportion of CD4(+)CD25(high+)CD127(low) Treg in peripheral blood in the bronchiolitis group (8.0%±2.1%) was significantly lower than in the bronchopneumonia (9.6%±2.6%; P<0.05) and control groups (11.3%±2.9%; P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

CD4(+)CD25(high+)CD127(low) Treg level in peripheral blood may be an index of immunological function in infants. A decreased level of CD4(+)CD25(high+)CD127(low) Treg in peripheral blood suggests that Treg cells may be involved in the pathogenesis and development of bronchiolitis.

Phenotypic characterization of ex vivo CD4+CD25highCD127low immune regulatory T cells in allergic asthma: pathogenesis relevance of their FoxP3, GITR, CTLA-4 and FAS expressions

BACKGROUND

CD4+CD25high regulatory T (Treg) cells are crucial for immune homeostasis and peripheral tolerance, but their relevance to allergic asthma has not been fully elucidated.

OBJECTIVE

To assess peripheral blood CD4+ T cells, and CD4+CD25highCD127low Treg cells expressing phenotypic markers (FoxP3, GITR, CTLA-4, and FAS) in allergic asthma subjects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from 60 allergic asthma (AA) subjects and 30 healthy controls (HC). We examined by flow cytometry, the proportion of CD4+ T cells and CD4+CD25highCD127low Treg cells as well as the expression of FoxP3, GITR, CTLA-4, and FAS by CD4+CD25highCD127low Treg cells. Moreover, FOXP3 mRNA expression was measured by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR).

RESULTS

The absolute number of CD4+CD25highCD127low Treg cells and the percentages of CD4+CD25highCD127low Treg cells expressing one of the four selected markers were significantly lower in allergic asthma subjects compared with controls. We observed no significant decreased absolute CD4+ T cell count in the examined groups compared to the control group. Except for GITR, circulatory CD4+CD25highCD127low Treg cells of severe allergic asthma (SA) subjects showed significantly lower expressions of FoxP3, CTLA-4, and CD95 than did those isolated from mild to moderate asthma (MA) patients. There was no statistically significant difference in the level of mRNA FoxP3 expression in CD4+CD25+ Treg cells between allergic asthma subjects and healthy controls groups, and within the examined groups (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that allergic asthma and the use of glucocorticosteroids are associated with decreased absolute number of circulatory CD4+CD25highCD127low Treg cells and the decreased frequencies of CD4+CD25highCD127low Treg cells expressing one of the four selected markers.

[Clinical significance and detection of the expression of CD25- CD127- on CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood in patients with hepatitis B]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical significance and detection of the expression of CD25- CD127- on CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood in patients with hepatitis B.

METHODS

The expression of CD25- CD127- on CD4+ T cells were measured by using flow cytometry in 53 patients with chronic hepatitis B, 53 carrier with hepatitis B virus and 26 healthy blood donors, and follow up 20 patients with HBV-DNA positive treated with interferon.

RESULTS

(1) Compared with healthy controls, the expression of CD25- CD127- on CD4+ T cells in patients and carrier with hepatitis B virus were lower (Q = 4.559, P < 0.05; Q = 6.230, P < 0.05). (2) The expression of CD25- CD127- on CD4+ T cells in patients with HBV-DNA positive (n = 77) was lower than that of negative (n = 29) (t = 2.290, P = 0.024). (3) Compared with the prior treatment,the expression of CD25- CD127- on CD4+ T cells in patients with B hepatitis were lower after interferon treated with 12 weeks (t = 2.469, P = 0.024).

CONCLUSION

It suggested that the CD25- CD127- expression on CD4+ T cells correlated with viral infections and cleared,exogenous interferon could decrease CD25- CD127- expression on CD4+ T cells.

Percentage of regulatory T cells CD4+CD25+CD127- in HIV-infected patients is not reduced after cryopreservation

Interest in regulatory T cells (Treg) has been continuously growing over the last 10years. In particular, a role for Treg has been recently reported in HIV. It is crucial to investigate their conservation over time, once sampled and purified. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether cryopreservation may modify recognition and measurement of relative frequency of Treg (CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(-)) among PBMCs purified from 17 HIV-infected patients. Ours results indicate that cryopreservation does not affect this specific T lymphocyte subset.

[Studies about the level of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells and relation between expression of Foxp3 and CD127 in peripheral blood of chronic HBV infection]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the level of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells and observe relation between expression of Foxp3 and CD127 in peripheral blood of chronic HBV infection.

METHODS

CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ and CD4+ CD25+ CD127low Treg in peripheral blood from 34 patients of immune tolerance stage, 26 patients of immune clearance stage and 31 patients of non-active status were quantitatively analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Immune tolerance group presented a higher fraction of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ and CD4+ CD25+ CD127low Treg than non-active group in chronic HBV infection (Z = -2.693, P = 0.007 and t = 3.251, P = 0.002), and HBV positive group also presented a higher fraction than non-active group (t = 2.266, P = 0.026 and t = 3.208, P = 0.002), But ALT normal group is similar to ALT abnormal group (P > 0.05). In this study, the relation between expression of CD127low and Foxp3+ from CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells was observed, and CD4+ CD25+ CD127low Treg presented a higher fraction than CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Treg.

CONCLUSION

Peripheral Treg in HBV active replication group is higher than HBV negative group of chronic HBV infection. Expression of CD127low is consistent with Foxp3+ in CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells, but the former is significantly higher than the latter.

[Expression of CD4+ CD25+ CD127(low/-) T cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus]

OBJECTIVE

To detect the new and old surface markers of regulatory T cells (Treg cells) in the CD4+ T cells of the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in order to reveal the role of Treg cells in the pathogenesis of SLE.

METHODS

Peripheral blood samples were collected from 29 newly diagnosed and treatment-naïve SLE patients, 3 males and 26 females, aged (34 +/- 13), and 24 sex and aged-matched healthy controls. Three-color flow cytometry was used to detect the CD4+CD25+ CD127(low/-) T cells, CD4+CD25high T cells, and CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ T cells. The serum anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), anti-ds-DNA antibody, anti-smooth muscle antibody, anti-nucleosome antibody, anti-C1q, C3, and C4 were detected. Blood and urine routine examinations were conducted.

RESULTS

The proportion of blood CD4+ CD25+CD127(low/-) T cells of the SLE patients was not significantly different from that of the controls (P > 0.05), however, the proportions of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ T cells and CD4+CD25high T cells of the SLE patients were 2.1 +/- 1.2 and 0.8 +/- 0.4 respectively, both significantly lower than those of the controls (4.0 +/- 1.4 and 1.8 +/- 0.8 respectively, both P <0.01). The ratios of the CD4+CD25+CD127(low/-) T cells, CD4+CD25high T cells, and CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ T cells to the CD4+CD25+ T cells of the SLE patients were 0.5 +/- 0.1, 0.1 +/- 0, and 0.3 +/- 0.1 respectively, all significantly lower than those of the controls (0.6 +/- 0.1, 0.2 +/- 0.1, and 0.5 +/- 0. respectively, all P <0.01). The level of CD4+CD25+CD127(low/-) T cell was positively correlated with the levels of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ T cells and CD4+CD25high T cell (both P < 0.01). The levels of these 3 kinds of cells and their ratios to CD4+CD25+ T cells had no correlation with age, sex, course, IgG, IgA, IgM, urine protein, TIPU, anti-dsDNA, anti-C1q, anti-nuclear body antibody (all P > 0.05), however, were significantly associated negatively with SLE disease activity index, P < 0.05). Only the CD4+CD25+CD127(low/-) T cells/ CD4+CD25+ T cells was negatively correlated with C4 (P <0.01).

CONCLUSION

The relative ratio of Treg cells to the activated CD4+ T cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE.