title: [The role of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis].
abstract: CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells play an important role in preventing autoimmunity. We investigated the presence of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells in the peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and systemic sclerosis (SSc), using flow cytometry. The percentage of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells was significantly decreased in RA, especially in patients with high serum levels of either CRP or MMP-3. In SSc and SLE, the percentage of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells was higher in patients than in controls, but not significant. We also investigated the serum levels of IL-10, which influences the function of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells and other regulatory T cells. In RA, on contrast to CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells, the serum levels of IL-10 increased in patients with higher serum levels of CRP, or MMP-3. In SLE and SSc, the serum level of IL-10 increased significantly in patients than in controls. These data thus indicated that CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells contributes to occurrence and progression of RA, and other regulatory T cells or cytokines contribute to occurrence and progression of SSc and SLE.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology and Connective Tissue Diseases, Clinical Research Institute, National Hospital Organization, Kyushu Medical Center.
authors.forename: Rumi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.forename: Kouko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Tomoya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyamura
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Eiichi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Suematsu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D015551:Autoimmunity; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000502:physiology*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000276:immunology; D017634:Self Tolerance; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D016753:Interleukin-10