[CD4+CD25+high regulatory T cells in patients with autoimmune hepatitis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of CD4+CD25+high regulatory T cells in the pathogenesis of autoimmune hepatitis.


METHODS
CD4+CD25+ high regulatory T cells and CD4+ T cells were measured by using flow cytometry in 16 patients with autoimmune hepatitis, 22 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 20 healthy blood donors. Foxp3 protein was detected by immunohistochemical assay in liver tissues from the patients with autoimmune hepatitis or chronic hepatitis B.


RESULTS
The percentage of CD4+CD25+high/CD4+ in patients with autoimmune hepatitis was significantly lower than that in healthy controls and patients with chronic hepatitis B. Meanwhile, the percentage of CD4+CD25+high/CD4+ highly increased in patients with chronic hepatitis B, compared with healthy controls; Foxp3 positive cells were mostly located in the hepatic lobular perisinusoidal spaces and the portal tract, and there was a significant difference in the quantity of Foxp3 positive cells between patients with autoimmune hepatitis and chronic hepatitis B.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with autoimmune hepatitis harbor a decreased percentage of CD4+CD25+ high regulatory T cells, which may be associated with development of autoimmunity.
Li
Ming
M
Department of Pathogenic Biology, Suzhou University, Suzhou 215007, China.
Zhuge
Hong-xiang
HX
Zhu
Chuan-wu
CW
Xu
Ping
P
Iuo
Xiang-rong
XR
Ye
Jian-zhong
JZ
Zhu
Wei
W
Qian
Feng
F
Wang
Hai-yan
HY
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000276:immunology; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors