title: Regulatory CD4+CD25+ T cells in the peripheral blood of lung transplant recipients: correlation with transplant outcome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The subset of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells, recently identified in humans, may play a central role in the regulation of immune tolerance to graft survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study assesses the frequency and functional profile of CD4+CD25+CD69- cells in the peripheral blood of lung transplant recipients (>3 years from transplantation), 10 of whom were in a stable clinical condition and 11 of whom demonstrated chronic rejection (bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome). We also studied a group of seven healthy subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of CD4+ T cells expressing CD25 (CD4+CD25+) and the highest levels (CD25) were lower in patients with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome compared with healthy subjects and subjects in a stable clinical condition (P < or = 0.01). Purified CD4+CD25+ cells exhibited a regulatory functional profile in vitro: they were hyporesponsive, suppressed the proliferation of CD4+CD25- cells, and produced interleukin-10.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results provide in vivo evidence that peripheral CD4+CD25+ T cells may represent an important regulatory subset in lung transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery and Organ Transplantation, University of Pavia and IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy. federica_meloni@libero.it
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meloni
authors.forename: Patrizio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vitulo
authors.forename: Alessia Marone
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paschetto
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morosini
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cascina
authors.forename: Iolanda
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mazzucchelli
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ciardelli
authors.forename: Tiberio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oggionni
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fietta
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pozzi
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viganò
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001989:Bronchiolitis Obliterans / Q000276:immunology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2