CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells suppress Mycobacterium tuberculosis immunity in patients with active disease.
CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) play a central role in the prevention of autoimmunity and in the control of immune responses by down-regulating the function of effector CD4(+) or CD8(+) T cells. The role of Treg in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and persistence is inadequately documented. Therefore, the current study was designed to determine whether CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells may modulate immunity against human tuberculosis (TB). Our results indicate that the number of CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) Treg increases in the blood or at the site of infection in active TB patients. The frequency of CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) Treg in pleural fluid inversely correlates with local MTB-specific immunity (p<0.002). These CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) T lymphocytes isolated from the blood and pleural fluid are capable of suppressing MTB-specific IFN-gamma and IL-10 production in TB patients. Therefore, CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) Treg expanded in TB patients suppress M. tuberculosis immunity and may therefore contribute to the pathogenesis of human TB.
Chen
Xinchun
X
Shenzhen Donghu Hospital, 2019, Buxin Road, Shenzhen 518020, China. chenxinchun@hotmail.com
Zhou
Boping
B
Li
Meizhong
M
Deng
Qunyi
Q
Wu
Xueqiong
X
Le
Xiaohua
X
Wu
Chi
C
Larmonier
Nicolas
N
Zhang
Wei
W
Zhang
Hongmei
H
Wang
Huosheng
H
Katsanis
Emmanuel
E
D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014396:Tuberculosis, Pleural / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*
D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D016207:Cytokines; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit