Flow cytometry study of blood cell subtypes reflects autoimmune and inflammatory processes in autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type I.
Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type I (APS I) is a recessive disorder caused by mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene. AIRE is expressed in medullary epithelial cells where it activates transcription of organ-specific proteins in thymus, thereby regulating autoimmunity. Patients with APS I have, in addition to autoimmune manifestations in endocrine organs, also often ectodermal dystrophies and chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis. The aim of this study was to characterize immune cell subpopulations in patients with APS I and their close relatives. Extensive blood mononuclear cell immunophenotyping was carried out on 19 patients with APS I, 18 first grade relatives and corresponding sex- and age-matched healthy controls using flow cytometry. We found a significant relative reduction in T helper cells coexpressing CCR6 and CXCR3 in patients with APS I compared to controls (mean = 4.10% versus 5.94% respectively, P = 0.035). The pools of CD16(+) monocytes and regulatory T cells (Tregs) were also lower in patients compared with healthy individuals (mean = 15.75% versus 26.78%, P = 0.028 and mean = 4.12% versus 6.73%, P = 0.029, respectively). This is the first report describing reduced numbers of CCR6(+)CXCR3(+) T helper cells and CD16(+) monocytes in patients with APS I We further confirm previous findings of reduced numbers of Tregs in these patients.
Wolff
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Institute of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. Anette.boe@med.uib.no
Oftedal
B E V
BE
Kisand
K
K
Ersvaer
E
E
Lima
K
K
Husebye
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ES
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016884:Polyendocrinopathies, Autoimmune / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult; D000096927:AIRE Protein
D001323:Autoantibodies; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000096927:AIRE Protein