title: Relationship between FOXP3 positive populations and cytokine production in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: In this work we studied CD4+FOXP3+ populations in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the relationship with Th cytokine production. We found an increment in CD25-FOXP3+ population in SLE associated with CD4+ downregulation and disease progression. CD25low cells were also upregulated and showed increased percentages of FOXP3+ and CD127-/low cells, supporting the activated status of SLE lymphocytes. Despite the normal levels of CD25highFOXP3+ cells, the negative correlations observed in controls with the frequency of IFNγ, TNFα and IL-10 secreting cells were disrupted in patients, supporting a defective Treg function. Also, CD25high cells showed an altered balance in the production of these cytokines. In addition, CD25highFOXP3+ cells correlated directly with IL-17A and IL-8 but not with TGFβ in SLE. The increased proportion of IL-17+ cells among the CD25high subset and the positive correlation between IL-17 levels and Treg cells suggest a trans-differentiation of Treg into Th17 cells in SLE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Functional Biology, Immunology Area, Faculty of Medicine, C/Julián Clavería s/n, University of Oviedo, and Department of Immunology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain. pradocatuxa@uniovi.es
authors.forename: Catuxa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prado
authors.forename: Banesa
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de Paz
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Carrio
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suárez
mesh_terms: D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D054338:Cell Transdifferentiation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000378:metabolism*; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D020381:Interleukin-17; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit