title: Balance of CD8+ CD28+ / CD8+ CD28- T lymphocytes is vital for patients with ulcerative colitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Immune balances are important for many diseases including ulcerative colitis (UC). This study aimed to explore the role of the balance between CD8+ CD28+ and CD8+ CD28- T lymphocytes for the immunological pathogenesis of UC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen patients with UC, 16 patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and 15 healthy volunteers were enrolled. The frequencies of CD8+ CD28+ and CD8+CD28- T lymphocytes in peripheral blood and colon tissue were tested using flow cytometry and immunofluorescent, respectively. The cytokines of the two lymphocytes were detected by protein chips and ELISA. The expression of the signal transducers, the JAK3 and STAT6, as well the transcription factors, the NFATc2 and GATA3, was all detected by both western blot and immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For UC patients, the frequencies of CD8+ CD28+ T lymphocytes, together with the ratios of CD8+ CD28+ / CD8+ CD28- T lymphocytes in blood and colon tissue, were significantly lower than those in both IBS patients and healthy volunteers. But the frequencies of CD8+ CD28- T lymphocytes in blood and colon tissue of the UC patients were significantly higher than the other two groups. The concentration of IL-7 and -13, and the expression of JAK3 and STAT6 in UC patients, were significantly lower when compared with the other two groups. Conversely, the concentration of IL-12p40 and -15, and the expression of GATA3 and NFATc2 in UC patients, were significantly higher than both IBS and control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The balance of CD8+ CD28+ / CD8+ CD28- T lymphocytes plays a vital role in UC, while the balance tilt towards CD8+ CD28+ T lymphocytes is beneficial for patients with UC.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department of Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
authors.forename: Shi-Xue
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Yan-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Hong-Bo
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jin-Shan
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Hong-Gang
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: Ru-Xi
authors.initials: RX
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Xue-Bao
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015153:Blotting, Western; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000473:pathology*; D003106:Colon / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D040081:Protein Array Analysis; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D014157:Transcription Factors