title: Regulatory T-cell function is impaired in celiac disease.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunology, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Via dell'Istria 65/1, 34137, Trieste, Italy. granzotto@burlo.trieste.it
authors.forename: Marilena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Granzotto
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: dal Bo
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quaglia
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tommasini
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piscianz
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valencic
authors.forename: Fortunato
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martelossi
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ventura
authors.forename: Tarcisio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Not
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D007371:Interferon-gamma