title: Expression of CD4+ forkhead box P3 (FOXP3)+ regulatory T cells in inflammatory bowel disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) plays an important role in the development and function of CD4(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells. In this study the percentage of CD4(+) FOXP3(+) Treg cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and the frequency of Treg cells in the colonic mucosa of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The percentage of CD4(+) FOXP3(+) Treg cells in PBMC was analyzed by flow cytometry. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the FOXP3(+) cells in the inflamed mucosa. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to detect the expressions of FOXP3 mRNA and protein in PBMC and mucosal biopsy specimens of IBD patients, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Together with the decrease of percentage of Treg cells in PBMC, we found that the frequency of Treg cells increased significantly in inflamed mucosa of active or inactive Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The expressions of FOXP3 mRNA and protein increased in inflamed mucosa when compared with those in healthy controls, especially the FOXP3 mRNA in patients with active CD or UC. Interestingly, the expression of FOXP3 protein in active UC was higher than that in active CD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a decrease of CD4(+) FOXP3(+) Treg cells in peripheral blood and an accumulation of Treg cells in inflamed mucosa. These data suggested that the suppressive function of Treg cells may be partially inhibited and this could be an important factor in the recurrence of disease, especially in UC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xue Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhi Bin
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jun Hao
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Cheng Gong
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger