Regulatory T-cell function is impaired in celiac disease.
Celiac disease (CD) is characterized by intolerance to gluten and high risk of developing autoimmune phenomena. Possible defects in immune tolerance could have a role in the pathogenesis of the disease. As regulatory T-cells (Tregs) are the main population involved in maintaining peripheral tolerance, we investigated the number of these cells in celiac patients as compared with healthy donors. Moreover, we analyzed the suppressive function of CD4+CD25+ T-cells from celiac disease patients and controls on autologous responder T-cells (CD4+CD25-). The percentage of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ cells was not different in celiacs and in healthy controls, and among positive cells the level of expression of the two regulatory markers was comparable. However, the suppressor activity of Tregs was significantly impaired in CD patients. These results suggest that a defect in Tregs function could play a role in the pathogenesis of CD and in CD-associated autoimmunity.
Granzotto
Marilena
M
Laboratory of Immunology, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Via dell'Istria 65/1, 34137, Trieste, Italy. granzotto@burlo.trieste.it
dal Bo
Sara
S
Quaglia
Sara
S
Tommasini
Alberto
A
Piscianz
Elisa
E
Valencic
Erica
E
Ferrara
Fortunato
F
Martelossi
Stefano
S
Ventura
Alessandro
A
Not
Tarcisio
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015551:Autoimmunity; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D007371:Interferon-gamma