title: Regulatory T-cell subsets with acquired functional impairment: important indicators of disease severity in atopic dermatitis.
abstract: Our aim was to assess whether the presence of highly active effector T cells in atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with changes in the number and/or function of regulatory T cells (Tregs). Flow cytometry was utilised to determine the percentage of CD4+ CD25bright CD127-/low FOXP3+ and skin-homing CLA+ CD4+ CD25bright FOXP3+ Tregs in healthy controls and AD patients. The correlation between disease severity and Treg percentages was estimated. Treg suppressor activity and cell proliferation were measured after T-cell stimulation. Significantly increased percentages of Tregs were found in AD patients compared to healthy individuals, and significant correlation between the frequency of Tregs and disease severity was also detected. The otherwise normal suppressor activity of Tregs decreased in the presence of Staphylococcus enterotoxin B (SEB). In conclusion, the continuous presence of SEB can trigger an acquired functional impairment of Tregs in AD patients and the correlation between the increased frequency of Tregs and disease severity supports their important role in AD pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Debrecen, Medical Centre, Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt 98, Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: Krisztián
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gáspár
authors.forename: Sándor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baráth
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mócsai
authors.forename: Edit
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gyimesi
authors.forename: Péter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Szodoray
authors.forename: Beatrix
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Irinyi
authors.forename: Margit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeher
authors.forename: Éva
authors.initials: É
authors.lastname: Remenyik
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szegedi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping / Q000379:methods; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D053699:Interleukin-7 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D015415:Biomarkers; C063419:CTAGE1 protein, human; D004768:Enterotoxins; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C508017:IL2RA protein, human; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D053699:Interleukin-7 Receptor alpha Subunit; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal