Regulatory T-cells infiltrate periodontal disease tissues.
CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (Tr) cells are critical in regulating the immune response and thereby play an important role in the defense against infection and control of autoimmune diseases. Our previous studies demonstrated the involvement of autoimmune responses in periodontitis. The aim of this study was to identify CD4+CD25+ Tr cells in periodontitis tissues and compare them with those in gingivitis tissues. Immunohistological analysis of CD4, CD25, and CTLA-4 and the gene expression analysis of FOXP3, TGF-beta1, and IL-10 on gingival biopsies revealed the presence of CD4+CD25+ Tr cells in all tissues. In periodontitis, the percentage of CD4+CD25+ Tr cells increased with increasing proportions of B-cells relative to T-cells. FOXP3, a characteristic marker for CD4+CD25+ Tr cells, TGF-beta1 and IL-10 were expressed more highly in periodontitis compared with gingivitis. These findings suggest that CD4+CD25+ Tr cells and possibly other regulatory T-cell populations do exist and may play regulatory roles in periodontal diseases.
Periodontology and Immunology, Department of Oral Health and Welfare, Niigata University Faculty of Dentistry, 5274 Gakkocho 2-ban-cho, Niigata 951-8514, Japan.
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T
Nakajima
K
K
Ueki-Maruyama
T
T
Oda
Y
Y
Ohsawa
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Ito
G J
GJ
Seymour
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K
Yamazaki
D000368:Aged; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000276:immunology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000276:immunology*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D016753:Interleukin-10