Imbalance of different types of CD4+forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3)+ T cells in patients with new‐onset systemic lupus erythematosus. (24th October 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ma, L.; Zhao, P.; Jiang, Z.; Shan, Y.; Jiang, Y.
• Is Part Of: Clinical and experimental immunology. Volume 174:Number 3(2013:Dec.)
• Page Start: 345
• Page End: 355
• Publication Date: 2013-10-24
• Subjects: CD25 -- FoxP3 -- IL‐10 -- regulatory T cells -- SLE; Immunopathology -- Periodicals; 616.079
• DOI: 10.1111/cei.12189
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-9104

Abstract

Summary: The aim of this study was to examine the numbers of CD4 + CD25 − forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3) +, CD4 + CD25 + FoxP3 + and CD4 + CXCR5 + FoxP3 + T cells in patients with new‐onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The numbers of CD4 + CD25 − FoxP3 +, CD4 + CD25 + FoxP3 + and CD4 + CXCR5 + FoxP3 + T cells and the concentrations of serum interleukin (IL)‐10 in 23 patients and 20 healthy controls (HC) were measured. The potential correlations between CD4 + FoxP3 + T cells, serum IL‐10 and clinical measures in SLE patients were analysed. In comparison with that in the HC, significantly reduced numbers of CD4 + CD25 + FoxP3 + and CD4 + CXCR5 + FoxP3 + T cells, but increased numbers of CD4 + CD25 − FoxP3 + T cells, were detected, accompanied by significantly lower levels of serum IL‐10 in the patients. Stratification analysis indicated the numbers of CD4 + CD25 + FoxP3 + and CD4 + CXCR5 + FoxP3 + T cells and serum IL‐10 levels in the patients with seropositive anti‐dsDNA were significantly less than that in those with seronegative anti‐dsDNA. Treatment with the anti‐SLE therapy, particularly with prednisone, leflunomide and methotrexate, significantly improved the imbalance of these types of FoxP3 + T cells and increased the concentrations of serum IL‐10 in the drug‐responding patients. The numbers of CD4 + CD25 + FoxP3 + T cells were correlated negatively with the values of SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), whereas the numbers of CD4 + CD25 − FoxP3 + T cells were correlated positively with the values of SLEDAI, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and serum C3. In addition, the concentrations of serum IL‐10 were correlated positively with the numbers of CD4 + CD25 + FoxP3 + T cells, but negatively with the values of SLEDAI, serum C3, CRP and ESR in these patients. Our data indicate that the imbalance of different types of FoxP3 + CD4 + T cells may contribute to the development of SLE in Chinese patients.