title: Decreased regulatory T-cells and CD4(+) /CD8(+) ratio correlate with disease onset and progression in patients with generalized vitiligo.
abstract: The aim of present study was to evaluate CD4(+) /CD8(+) ratio and CD4(+) CD25(hi) FoxP3(+) Tregs in GV patients with reference to their effect on disease onset and progression. Flow cytometry was used for determination of CD4(+) /CD8(+) ratio and Tregs in 82 patients and 50 controls. CD8(+) T-cell counts were significantly higher in GV patients as compared with controls (p = 0.003). Active GV patients showed higher CD8(+) T-cell counts compared with stable GV patients (p = 0.001). The CD4(+) /CD8(+) ratio decreased significantly in patients as compared with controls (p = 0.001). Moreover, the ratio in active GV patients significantly lowered as compared with stable GV patients (p = 0.002). Significant decrease in Treg cell percentage and counts in GV patients was observed compared with controls (p = 0.009, p = 0.008) with significant reduction in FoxP3 expression (p = 0.024). Treg cell percentage and counts were significantly decreased in active GV patients compared with stable GV patients (p = 0.007, p = 0.002). Our results suggest that an imbalance of CD4(+) /CD8(+) ratio and natural Tregs in frequency and function might be involved in the T-cell mediated pathogenesis of GV and its progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, India.
authors.forename: Mitesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dwivedi
authors.forename: Naresh C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Laddha
authors.forename: Prateek
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.forename: Yogesh S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Marfatia
authors.forename: Rasheedunnisa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Begum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015551:Autoimmunity; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010858:Pigmentation; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology*; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit