title: Apoptosis signaling is altered in CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ T regulatory lymphocytes in pre-eclampsia.
abstract: The aim of our study was to estimate the surface expressions of CD95 (APO-1/Fas) antigen and the intracellular expressions of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and pro-apoptotic protein Bax in CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) T regulatory lymphocytes (Tregs) as well as the percentage of CD8(+)CD28(+) T cytotoxic cells in peripheral blood of patients with pre-eclampsia in comparison with healthy pregnant women in the third trimester of physiological pregnancy. Twenty-four women with pre-eclampsia and 20 normal third trimester pregnant women were included in the study. The lymphocytes were isolated from peripheral blood samples and labeled with monoclonal antibodies. The expressions of surface antigens and intracellular proteins were estimated using flow cytometry. The population of CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) Treg cells was significantly lower in peripheral blood of patients with pre-eclampsia when compared to normal third trimester pregnant women. The percentages of CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) Treg cells that express Bcl-2 protein were significantly lower in peripheral blood of patients with pre-eclampsia when compared to healthy pregnant women, whereas the percentages of CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) Treg cells with the expressions of Bax protein did not differ in both groups. Moreover, the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of Bcl-2 protein in CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) Treg cells was significantly lower and MFI of Bax protein significantly higher in pre-eclampsia when compared to the control group. The percentage of CD8(+)CD28(+) T cells did not differ in both studied groups but MFI of CD28 antigen on T CD8(+) cells was significantly higher in pre-eclampsia when compared to the control group. The obtained results suggest that the deficit of CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) Treg lymphocytes which is observed in pre-eclampsia may be associated with altered apoptosis signaling in Tregs.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin 20-950, Al. Raclawickie 1, Poland.
authors: Dorota
authors: D
authors: Darmochwal-Kolarz
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.
authors: Shigeru
authors: S
authors: Saito
authors: Department of Clinical Immunology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin 20-950, Al. Raclawickie 1, Poland.
authors: Jacek
authors: J
authors: Tabarkiewicz
authors: Department of Clinical Immunology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin 20-950, Al. Raclawickie 1, Poland.
authors: Bogdan
authors: B
authors: Kolarz
authors: Department of Clinical Immunology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin 20-950, Al. Raclawickie 1, Poland.
authors: Jacek
authors: J
authors: Rolinski
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin 20-950, Al. Raclawickie 1, Poland.
authors: Bozena
authors: B
authors: Leszczynska-Gorzelak
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin 20-950, Al. Raclawickie 1, Poland.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Oleszczuk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000737:chemistry; D017209:Apoptosis; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018106:CD28 Antigens; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2