T regulatory cells are markedly diminished in diseased salivary glands of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the abnormalities of T regulatory cells (Treg) in salivary glands and peripheral blood in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS).

METHODS:
Levels of CD4+CD25+ high T cells of the peripheral blood of 52 patients with pSS were measured by flow-cytometric assay. Lower lip salivary gland biopsies were examined by immunohistochemistry, using monoclonal mouse anti-human antibodies [CD25, CD4, CD8, CD68, forkhead transcription factor (Foxp3)] in 30 patients with pSS. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction, Foxp3 messenger RNA expression was assessed in the salivary glands and CD4+ T cells from peripheral blood.

RESULTS:
Many inflammatory cells, predominantly CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and macrophages, were found in salivary glands of patients with SS, but CD4+CD25+ Treg numbers and Foxp3 expression were markedly reduced in those biopsy samples. Levels of CD4+CD25+ high T cells and Foxp3 expression in peripheral blood of patients with pSS were significantly lower than in healthy controls. However, the inhibitory function of CD4+CD25+ T cells in pSS was unchanged compared to that of controls. Peripheral CD4+CD25+ high T cell numbers in pSS did not correlate with Schirmer's test and salivary flow rate, or with the presence or absence of anti-SSA/SSB antibodies and immunoglobulin level.

CONCLUSION:
The remarkable reduction of Treg numbers in salivary glands and reduction of CD4+CD25+ high T cells in peripheral blood suggests a possible role for absence of Treg in the pathogenesis of salivary gland destruction in pSS.

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Author information

Author/s: Li, Xiaomei (X); Li, Xiangpei (X); Qian, Long (L); Wang, Guosheng (G); Zhang, Hong (H); Wang, Xiaoqiu (X); Chen, Ke (K); Zhai, Zhimin (Z); Li, Qing (Q); Wang, Yiping (Y); Harris, David C H (DC);

Affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Anhui Medical University Affiliated Provincial Hospital, Hefei, Anhui Province, China. Lixiaomei1(-atsign-)medmail.com.cn

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: The Journal of rheumatology (J Rheumatol), published in Canada. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Dec; vol 34 (issue 12) : pp 2438-45

Dates: Created 2007/12/06; Completed 2008/02/28;

PMID: 18050367, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Antigens, CD4 - blood
Biopsy, Needle
Case-Control Studies
Female
Flow Cytometry
Forkhead Transcription Factors - biosynthesis
Humans

Humans
Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit - blood
Male
Middle Aged
Salivary Glands - pathology
Sjogren's Syndrome - blood; pathology
T-Lymphocyte Subsets
T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory

Associated Chemicals: Antigens, CD4 (0) ; Forkhead Transcription Factors (0) ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit (0)

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