title: T regulatory cells are markers of disease activity in multiple sclerosis patients.
abstract: FoxP3⁺ Treg cells are believed to play a role in the occurrence of autoimmunity and in the determination of clinical recurrences. Contradictory reports are, however, available describing frequency and function of Treg cells during autoimmune diseases. We examined, by both polychromatic flow cytometry, and real-time RT-PCR, several Treg markers in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system. We found that Tregs, as defined by CD25, CD39, FoxP3, CTLA4, and GITR expression, were significantly decreased in stable MS patients as compared to healthy donors, but, surprisingly, restored to normal levels during an acute clinical attack. We conclude that Treg cells are not involved in causing clinical relapses, but rather react to inflammation in the attempt to restore homeostasis.
authors: Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors: Dacia
authors: D
authors: Dalla Libera
authors: Diletta
authors: D
authors: Di Mitri
authors: Alessandra
authors: A
authors: Bergami
authors: Diego
authors: D
authors: Centonze
authors: Claudio
authors: C
authors: Gasperini
authors: Maria Grazia
authors: MG
authors: Grasso
authors: Simona
authors: S
authors: Galgani
authors: Vittorio
authors: V
authors: Martinelli
authors: Giancarlo
authors: G
authors: Comi
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Avolio
authors: Gianvito
authors: G
authors: Martino
authors: Giovanna
authors: G
authors: Borsellino
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Sallusto
authors: Luca
authors: L
authors: Battistini
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Furlan
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors