Decrease in CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Treg cells after pulmonary resection in the treatment of cavity multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.
OBJECTIVE
Immune regulatory mechanisms may limit the immunopathologic condition of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and suppress cellular immune responses in the host. We investigated the CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) circulating regulatory T cells (T(reg)) in patients with cavity multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) before and after surgery.


METHODS
We compared the proportion of T(reg) cells in 13 patients with cavity MDR-TB pre- and postoperatively and in 10 healthy control subjects by flow cytometry using three specific markers in peripheral blood lymphocytes: cell-surface CD4 and CD25 expression and intracellular FoxP3 expression.


RESULTS
The proportion of CD4(+)CD25(high) and CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) T(reg) was significantly higher in patients with cavity MDR-TB and at 1-month postoperatively than in healthy controls (p<0.001). The proportion of CD4(+) and CD4(+)CD25(-) cells was significantly lower in patients with cavity MDR-TB than in controls (p<0.001). Pre- and postoperative proportions of CD4(+)CD25(high) and CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) T(reg) cells showed a positive correlation (r=0.878, p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Circulating T(reg) cells are increased in proportion in patients with cavity MDR-TB and decreased after surgery. Infection with M. tuberculosis may induce T(reg) cell-surface molecular changes with increased numbers of cells.
Wu
Ying E
YE
Department of Laboratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
Peng
Wen Guang
WG
Cai
Ying Mu
YM
Zheng
Gao Zhe
GZ
Zheng
Geng Long
GL
Lin
Jing Hua
JH
Zhang
Su Wei
SW
Li
Ke
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000379:methods; D011859:Radiography; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult
D015704:CD4 Antigens; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C508017:IL2RA protein, human; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit