title: Treg lymphocytes in autoimmune uveitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate circulating CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T-cell populations in patients with autoimmune uveitis and to assess whether T-regulatory cell populations correlate with clinical features.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-four patients with noninfectious uveitis were enrolled. Following isolation and purification of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, Tregs were analyzed by assessing FOXP3 expression on T cells with an APC anti-human FOXP3 staining kit. Samples were simultaneously stained with anti-CD25-PeCy7, anti-CD3-FITC, anti-CD4-PercP, and anti-CD152 (CTLA-4)-PE monoclonal antibodies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A decrease in CD4(+)CD25(+)FOXP3(+) T cells was detected in patients with active uveitis compared with healthy controls (p < .05). In patients achieving clinical remission, the percentage of CD4(+)CD25(+)FOXP3(+) T cells increased up to values comparable to those of healthy controls, in step with an increased expression of CTLA4.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therapy of autoimmune uveitis results in the increase of T-regulatory lymphocyte population and restoration of their functional state. These changes are likely to contribute to the patients' clinical improvement or disease regression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of Internal Medicine and Clinical Oncology, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ruggieri
authors.forename: Maria Antonia
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Frassanito
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dammacco
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guerriero
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014605:Uveitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; C556706:CTLA4 protein, human; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents