title: SF Treg cells transcribing high levels of Bcl-2 and microRNA-21 demonstrate limited apoptosis in RA.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the turnover of Treg cells in the SF of RA patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Treg cells were enumerated in peripheral blood and SF of RA patients and analysed by flow cytometry for expression of the proliferation marker Ki-67 and binding of the apoptosis marker annexin V. Sorted Treg cells of RA patients were analysed for expression of anti-apoptotic regulators Bcl-2 and microRNA-21 (miR-21) by RT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treg cells displaying a memory phenotype were abundant in the SF of RA patients. SF Treg cells more frequently expressed the proliferation marker Ki-67 than conventional T cells. Only few SF Treg cells were apoptotic, as indicated by limited annexin V staining of these cells. SF Treg cells displayed high transcription levels of Bcl-2 and miR-21 in comparison with SF conventional T cells and peripheral blood Treg cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treg cells with a memory phenotype accumulate in the SF of RA patients. These Treg cells have a high proliferative activity and demonstrate little apoptosis. The latter finding could be explained by high transcription of Bcl-2 and miR-21 in SF Treg cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology and Department of Laboratory Medicine, Section Medical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology and Department of Laboratory Medicine, Section Medical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands k.s.m.van.der.geest@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: Kornelis S M
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: van der Geest
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology and Department of Laboratory Medicine, Section Medical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smigielska-Czepiel
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology and Department of Laboratory Medicine, Section Medical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ji-Ah
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology and Department of Laboratory Medicine, Section Medical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wayel H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Abdulahad
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology and Department of Laboratory Medicine, Section Medical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hye-Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology and Department of Laboratory Medicine, Section Medical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bart-Jan
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kroesen
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology and Department of Laboratory Medicine, Section Medical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van den Berg
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology and Department of Laboratory Medicine, Section Medical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Annemieke M H
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Boots
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology and Department of Laboratory Medicine, Section Medical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Eun-Bong
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology and Department of Laboratory Medicine, Section Medical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brouwer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D017304:Annexin A5; D015415:Biomarkers; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; C524940:MIRN21 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
keywords: Bcl-2; apoptosis; cell proliferation; miR-21; microRNA; regulatory T cell; rheumatoid arthritis