title: Comparison of regulatory T cells and FoxP3-positive T-cell subsets in the peripheral blood of renal transplant recipients with sirolimus versus cyclosporine: a preliminary study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sirolimus-based regimens have recently been introduced as nephron-sparing strategies to avoid the calcineurin inhibitors-induced nephrotoxicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  To investigate the different effects of these 2 immunosuppressants on CD4(+)CD25(hi)FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) and the newly defined subsets of FoxP3(+) T cells, including CD45RA(-)FoxP3(lo) cytokine-secreting T cells (csT cells), CD45RA(-)FoxP3(hi) activated Treg (aTregs), and CD45RA(+)FoxP3(+) resting Treg (rTregs), 52 cases of renal transplant recipients who have received a maintenance immunosuppressive regimen comprised either cyclosporine (n = 34) or sirolimus (n = 18) were collected and proportion of Tregs and each subset of FoxP3(+) T cells in peripheral blood was detected by flowcytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sirolimus significantly prompted the proportion of Tregs (5.92 ± 0.40 vs 2.19 ± 0.18; P < .001) and both of the CD45RA-negative subsets, including csT cells (4.92 ± 0.50 vs 1.83 ± 0.18; P < .001) and aTregs (1.04 ± 0.15 vs 0.23 ± 0.05; P < .05) when compared with cyclosporine. However, the rTregs were not remarkably affected (0.36 ± 0.09 vs 0.79 ± 0.28; P = .063).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sirolimus plays its immune regulatory role in renal transplantation partly by increasing the proportion of Tregs. However, the increasing of both pro- and anti-inflammatory subsets of FoxP3(+) T cells also indicates the potential compromising of the effects of sirolimus on immune regulation.
authors: Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Zhao
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Qiu
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Xue
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Zhao
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Song
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Qiu
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Ma
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Yang
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Xu
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Rong
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009399:Nephrons / Q000473:pathology; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D016572:Cyclosporine; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D020123:Sirolimus