[Role of CD4+ CD25 high regulatory T cells in the pathogenesis of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) regulatory T cells and CD(4)(+)CD(25)(high) regulatory T cells in peripheral blood and decidua in the pathogenesis of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).


METHODS
Peripheral blood and decidua CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) regulatory T cells and CD(4)(+)CD(25)(high) regulatory T cells in 30 ICP patients (15 mild ICP and 15 severe ICP) and 28 normal pregnant women were analyzed by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
The percentage of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) regulatory T cells and CD(4)(+)CD(25)(high) regulatory T cells in the CD(4)(+) T cells population in both peripheral blood and decidua in ICP patients were significantly lower than those in control women [(7.96 +/- 1.32)% vs (17.05 +/- 2.86)%, (17.18 +/- 2.27)% vs (32.01 +/- 3.88)%; (0.78 +/- 0.22)% vs (1.71 +/- 0.69)%, (2.25 +/- 0.89)% vs (8.30 +/- 1.13)%; P < 0.01]. Meanwhile, a significantly higher percentage of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) regulatory T cells and CD(4)(+)CD(25)(high) regulatory T cells in the CD(4)(+) T cells population was observed in all decidua samples compared to peripheral blood both in ICP patients (P < 0.01) and in control women (P < 0.01). In addition, the percentages of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) regulatory T cells and CD(4)(+)CD(25)(high) regulatory T cells in the CD(4)(+) T cell population in both decidua and peripheral blood in severe ICP [(15.94 +/- 1.95)%, (7.17 +/- 1.17)%, (1.87 +/- 0.90)%, (0.68 +/- 0.19)%] were lower than those in mild ICP [(18.43 +/- 1.90)%, (8.74 +/- 0.96)%, (2.62 +/- 0.72)%, (0.89 +/- 0.20)%] and normal pregnancy (all P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
CD(4)(+)CD(25)(high) regulatory T cell may play an important role in the pathogenesis of ICP and control of disease progression.
Lin
Li
L
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
Zhang
Li-Juan
LJ
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D003656:Decidua / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
D015703:Antigens, CD; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit