title: Frequency, function and CLA expression of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells in bullous pemphigoid.
abstract: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune blistering skin disease associated with autoantibodies to collagen XVII and tissue-separation along the dermo-epidermal junction. We addressed the question whether the loss of tolerance in BP patients is associated with a reduction and/or functional impairment of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells, which are essential for the active maintenance of self tolerance. The relative and absolute frequency of CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25(high) regulatory T cells in the peripheral blood of newly diagnosed, untreated patients was similar to that of healthy controls. Interestingly, more than 50% of circulating CD4+CD25(high) regulatory T cells from both patients as well as healthy controls expressed cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen. Considerable numbers of FOXP3+ cells were detected in lesional skin of patients. CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells of patients were functionally intact as assessed by their ability to suppress allogeneic as well as antigen-specific T-cell proliferation. These data argue against a general defect of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells in patients with BP.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Group Allergology, Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rensing-Ehl
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gaus
authors.forename: Leena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bruckner-Tuderman
authors.forename: Stefan F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015551:Autoimmunity; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010391:Pemphigoid, Bullous / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015704:CD4 Antigens; C063419:CTAGE1 protein, human; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma