Accumulation of FoxP3-expressing CD4+CD25+ T cells with distinct chemokine receptors in synovial fluid of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the presence and characteristics of FoxP3-expressing CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in synovial fluid (SF) of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
The frequency and chemokine receptors expression profile of FoxP3-expressing CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in SF and peripheral blood (PB) from RA patients and PB from healthy controls were investigated by flow cytometry using three- or four-colour intracellular staining.


RESULTS
The frequency of CD4+CD25+ FoxP3+ T cells was increased significantly in SF compared with paired PB from RA patients and PB from healthy controls (p<0.05). However, the frequency in PB from RA patients was significantly lower than in PB from healthy controls (p<0.05). Notably, CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ T cells in SF expressed increased levels of inflammation-related trafficking chemokine receptors, such as CCR4, CCR5, and CXCR4.


CONCLUSIONS
There is an accumulation of FoxP3-expressing regulatory T cells in RA SF, and such recruitment may be dependent on the distinct chemokine receptors expressed on regulatory T cells.
Jiao
Z
Z
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China. jiaozhijun@ujs.edu.cn
Wang
W
W
Jia
R
R
Li
J
J
You
H
H
Chen
L
L
Wang
Y
Y
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000502:physiology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D012333:RNA, Messenger