CD4+Foxp3+ T-regulatory cells in noninfectious uveitis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate CD4(+)Foxp3(+) (forkhead box P3) T-regulatory cell populations in patients with uveitis and to determine if T-regulatory cell populations are associated with disease features.


METHODS
Patients with uveitis were evaluated for CD4(+)Foxp3(+) T-regulatory cells by flow cytometry. Systemic and ocular diagnoses, disease activity, and the presence of cystoid macular edema were reviewed. Percentages of CD4(+)Foxp3(+) lymphocytes were compared for patients with inactive vs active disease, systemic vs ocular diagnoses, and the presence or absence of cystoid macular edema. Real-time polymerase chain reaction testing was performed on 2 patients with extremely low CD4(+)Foxp3(+) cell populations to assess Foxp3 mRNA.


RESULTS
A total of 20 patients with intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis, and panuveitis were evaluated. The mean age was 40.6 years and the mean visual acuity was 20/57. Percentages of CD4(+)Foxp3(+) cells were lower in patients with active compared with inactive uveitis (P< .05). No differences in T-regulatory cells were observed between the other subgroups. Two patients with recalcitrant uveitis who demonstrated less than 1% CD4(+)Foxp3(+) lymphocytes showed extremely low or absent Foxp3 mRNA.


CONCLUSIONS
T-regulatory cells are reduced in patients with active compared with inactive disease. Severe depletion of CD4(+)Foxp3(+) T cells and Foxp3 mRNA in 2 patients with severe uveitis suggests that loss of the T-regulatory cells of uveitis may be a salient feature in certain patients.
Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Steven
S
Yeh
Zhuqing
Z
Li
Farzin
F
Forooghian
Frank S
FS
Hwang
Matthew A
MA
Cunningham
Seth
S
Pantanelli
Julie C
JC
Lew
Keith K
KK
Wroblewski
Susan
S
Vitale
Robert B
RB
Nussenblatt
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D014605:Uveitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
D015704:CD4 Antigens; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger