title: Relationship between leptin and regulatory T cells in systemic lupus erythematosus: preliminary results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Crescent literature data demonstrated a role of adipokines in immune responses, particularly leptin is involved in wide spectrum of pro-inflammatory functions. Several evidences suggested that leptin is able to inhibit T regulatory cells proliferation and function in vitro models. In the present study, we investigate the relationship between leptin and circulating T regulatory cells (Tregs) in patients affected by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
  
  
  METHODS
  13 SLE patients and 11 healthy controls were enrolled. Metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular parameters were evaluated. Serum leptin levels were detected by commercial ELISA kit and circulating regulatory T cells were determined by FACS analysis as CD4+CD25highFOP3+ lymphocytes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Metabolic syndrome, defined by ATPIII criteria, was more prevalent in SLE compared to controls (38.4% vs. 0%, p = 0.04), as well as arterial hypertension (38.4% vs. 0%, p = 0.04). We did not find significant differences in mean leptin levels among SLE and controls (13.13 ± 1.51 ng/ml vs. 9.48 ± 8.67 ng/ml, p = 0.6). Mean Tregs percentage of total CD4 were 1.27 ± 0.9 in SLE vs. 2.8 ± 1.2 in healthy controls (p = 0.001). We found a negative correlation between leptin levels and Tregs percentage of total CD4 in SLE patients (r = 0.4, p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest a role of leptin in the regulation of circulating T regulatory cells amount in human SLE.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Medicine and Rheumatology Department, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy. l.navarini@unicampus.it.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Margiotta
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Navarini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vadacca
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Basta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lo Vullo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pignataro
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Zardi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Afeltra
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D015415:Biomarkers; D020738:Leptin