title: Increase of CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells in Smad3(-/-) mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the changes of lymphocyte subpopulations, especially CD4(+)CD25(+) T regulatory cells in Smad3(-/-) mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hematological changes and changes of lymphocyte subpopulations were detected in Smad3(-/-) mice using cell counter and flow cytometry, respectively, and compared to their littermate controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The numbers of neutrophils and lymphocytes in peripheral blood were significantly increased in Smad3(-/-) mice compared to littermate controls. CD19(+) expressing cells in blood and spleen, and CD8(+) T cells in thymus were all markedly decreased in Smad3(-/-) mice. More important, Smad3(-/-) mice had an increased population of CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells in peripheral lymphoid tissues, including thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These observations suggest that the changes of lymphocyte subpopulations might play a role in susceptibility to inflammation of Smad3(-/-) mice.
authors: Department of Immunology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, China.
authors: Zi-Bing
authors: ZB
authors: Wang
authors: Yu-Fang
authors: YF
authors: Cui
authors: Yu-Qing
authors: YQ
authors: Liu
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Jin
authors: Han
authors: H
authors: Xu
authors: Zhu-Jun
authors: ZJ
authors: Jiang
authors: Ya-Xin
authors: YX
authors: Lu
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Xiao-Lan
authors: XL
authors: Liu
authors: Bo
authors: B
authors: Dong