Decreased regulatory T‐cells and CD4+/CD8+ ratio correlate with disease onset and progression in patients with generalized vitiligo. (13th May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dwivedi, Mitesh; Laddha, Naresh C.; Arora, Prateek; Marfatia, Yogesh S.; Begum, Rasheedunnisa
• Is Part Of: Pigment cell & melanoma research. Volume 26:Number 4(2013:Jul.)
• Page Start: 586
• Page End: 591
• Publication Date: 2013-05-13
• Subjects: Melanoma -- Periodicals; Chromatophores -- Periodicals; Animal pigments -- Periodicals; 616.99477
• DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12105
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1755-1471

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="pcmr12105-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <p>The aim of present study was to evaluate CD4<sup>+</sup>/CD8<sup>+</sup> ratio and CD4<sup>+</sup>CD25<sup>hi</sup>FoxP3<sup>+</sup> Tregs in GV patients with reference to their effect on disease onset and progression. Flow cytometry was used for determination of CD4<sup>+</sup>/CD8<sup>+</sup> ratio and Tregs in 82 patients and 50 controls. CD8<sup>+</sup> T‐cell counts were significantly higher in GV patients as compared with controls (p<italic> </italic>=<italic> </italic>0.003). Active GV patients showed higher CD8<sup>+</sup> T‐cell counts compared with stable GV patients (p<italic> </italic>=<italic> </italic>0.001). The CD4<sup>+</sup>/CD8<sup>+</sup> ratio decreased significantly in patients as compared with controls (p<italic> </italic>=<italic> </italic>0.001). Moreover, the ratio in active GV patients significantly lowered as compared with stable GV patients (p<italic> </italic>=<italic> </italic>0.002). Significant decrease in Treg cell percentage and counts in GV patients was observed compared with controls (p<italic> </italic>=<italic> </italic>0.009, p<italic> </italic>=<italic> </italic>0.008) with significant reduction in FoxP3 expression (p<italic> </italic>=<italic> </italic>0.024). Treg cell percentage and counts were significantly decreased in active GV patients compared with stable GV patients (p<italic> </italic>=<italic> </italic>0.007, p<italic> </italic>=<italic> </italic>0.002). Our results suggest that an imbalance of CD4<sup>+</sup>/CD8<sup>+</sup> ratio and natural Tregs in frequency and function might be involved in the T‐cell mediated pathogenesis of GV and its progression.</p> </abstract>