[Correlation between FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) are present in the acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) and the correlation between Treg and COPD.


METHODS
Peripheral blood samples were collected from 21 patients of AECOPD, 20 males and 1 female, aged (70 +/- 9) (52-85). Lymphocytes were isolated by three-color labeled three colors monoclonal antibodies flow cytometry to examine the quantities and percentages of CD4(+)CD25(+), CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) (CD4(+)Treg), CD8(+)CD25(+), and CD8(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) (CD8(+)Treg). ELISA was used to detect the expression of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). Middle correlation coefficient r> or = 0.3 was analysed and discussed.


RESULTS
The percentages of CD4(+)CD25(+), CD4(+)Treg, CD8(+)CD25(+), and CD8(+)Treg in AECOPD were (18 +/- 6)%, (19 +/- 13)%, (5 +/- 4)%, and (12 +/- 10)% respectively. Linear correlation analysis indicated that the quantity and percentage of Treg were significantly correlated with age, course of disease, smoking index, quantity of white cells, and blood pH, and there were complex causal relations between the immunity of patients and these factors. However, TGF-beta1 and IL-10 showed no correlation with Treg.


CONCLUSIONS
CD4(+)Treg and CD8(+)Treg are expressed in the peripheral blood of AECOPD patients and contribute to the immune suppression of these patients, so they can be used as new markers of immunity of these patients.
Xiong
Xian-Zhi
XZ
Department of Respiratory Disease, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China. xxz0508@yahoo.com.cn
Jin
Yang
Y
Zhou
Qiong
Q
Zhang
Xiao-Ju
XJ
Du
Wen
W
Liu
Wei
W
Huang
Shi-Ang
SA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D012907:Smoking; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10