title: Decrease in CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Treg cells after pulmonary resection in the treatment of cavity multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Ying E
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Wen Guang
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Ying Mu
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Gao Zhe
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Geng Long
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Jing Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Su Wei
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C508017:IL2RA protein, human; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit