Investigation of regulatory T cells in anorexia nervosa.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of our study was to determine, how severe calorie restriction in anorexia nervosa (AN) may influence regulatory T (Treg) cells and their cellular networks, that is, their main inducers (dendritic cells (DC) and monocytes) and their target cells, CD4+ lymphocytes.


METHODS
We measured the prevalence of Tregs, myeloid and plasmocytoid DC. The prevalence of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin (IL)-12-positive monocytes, IL-2, IL-4 and interferon (IFN)-gamma positive CD4+ cells was determined by intracellular staining after activation.


METHODS
In total, 21 AN patients and 19 healthy age-matched controls (body mass index values, median (range): 14.9 (11.1-17.4) vs 23.2 (19.5-27.4) kg/m(2)) have been recruited.


RESULTS
Prevalence of Tregs, DCs, TNF-alpha and IL-12-positive monocytes, IL-4 and IFN-gamma-producing CD4+ cells were similar in AN and controls. The prevalence of IL-2-positive CD4+ cells was somewhat lower in AN (% value, median (range): 12.05 (7.50-16.70) vs 14.40 (12.00-22.00), P<0.05). None of these parameters correlated with the patients' clinical characteristics.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that the antigen presenting cell - regulatory T cell - CD4+ lymphocyte axis is not affected by calorie and nutritional deficiency.
Pászthy
B
B
Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Svec
P
P
Vásárhelyi
B
B
Túry
F
F
Mazzag
J
J
Tulassay
T
T
Treszl
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000502:physiology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
D007376:Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma