title: Quantification and molecular characterization of regulatory T cells in connective tissue diseases.
abstract: The aim of our study was to investigate and characterize regulatory T cells (Treg) in peripheral blood of patients with connective tissue diseases (Systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, Sjögren's syndrome, poly- and dermatomyositis) as compared with blood from healthy controls. Treg cells were quantified and phenotypically characterized by flow cytometry while the expression level of Foxp3 mRNA was evaluated by real time PCR. A reduced percentage of peripheral blood Treg cells was found in patients than in controls, irrespective of the type of connective tissue disease. Treg cells, especially those expressing one of the phenotypical markers, seemed to differ not only between patients and healthy controls but also among types of diseases. Additionally, the presence of autoantibodies as well as disease activity appeared to be correlated with particular Treg cell populations, especially those expressing one of the examined phenotypical markers. Correlations with therapy suggested that glucocorticoids plus antimalarial or other immunosuppressor drugs diminished the percentage of Treg cells, especially of those with memory phenotype. These findings indicated dysregulations at the level of Treg cells and suggested an involvement of these cells in the pathology of connective tissue diseases. Moreover, our data are in agreement with the suggestion that Treg cells could be therapeutic targets for some autoimmune diseases.
authors.affiliation: Cellular Receptors Laboratory, Cantacuzino National Institute of Research and Development for Microbiology and Immunology, Centre for Advanced Studies, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Leontina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Banica
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Besliu
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pistol
authors.forename: Crina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stavaru
authors.forename: Ruxandra
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ionescu
authors.forename: Ana-Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Forsea
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tanaseanu
authors.forename: Sergiu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dumitrache
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Otelea
authors.forename: Isabela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tamsulea
authors.forename: Stefanita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaseanu
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chitonu
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paraschiv
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balteanu
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stefanescu
authors.forename: Cristiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Matache
mesh_terms: D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors