title: Correlation of CD₄⁺ CD₂₅⁺ Foxp₃⁺ Treg with the recovery of joint function after total knee replacement in rats with osteoarthritis.
abstract: In this study, we observed changes in CD4(+) CD25(+) Foxp3(+) Treg expression in rats with osteoarthritis (OA) to explore the role that CD4(+) CD25(+) Foxp3(+) Treg plays in the decline in the condition of OA rats. Thirty rats were randomly divided into 2 groups equally and OA was induced in rats in the model group by injection of papain and l-cysteine into the right knee joint. Cartilage lesions were scored by the modified Mankin scale; pulmonary function was assessed by spirometry; interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-4 levels were evaluated by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; and the levels of CD4(+) CD25(+) Foxp3(+) Treg in peripheral blood were measured by flow cytometry. The left knee joints of the model rats appeared palpable swelling and osteophytes, while the body weight, heart and lung function of these rats decreased. The serum IL-4 level was lower, whereas the serum IL-17 level was higher in the model group (P < 0.05). The peripheral blood CD4(+) CD25(+) Foxp3(+) Treg of CD4(+)T cells was significantly lower. Correlation of the changes in the levels of IL-4, IL-17, and Treg suggests that the underlying mechanism may be a reduction of the regulatory effect of Treg. The specific mechanism still requires further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: S-Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Y-J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Z-Z
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: E-S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D018801:CD2 Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020127:Recovery of Function; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D018801:CD2 Antigens; C465878:Cd2 protein, rat; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C500522:Foxp3 protein, rat; D020381:Interleukin-17; D015847:Interleukin-4