Authors: Idali, F.; Wahlström, J.; Müller-Suur, C.; Eklund, A.; Grunewald, J.

Source: Clinical & Experimental Immunology, Volume 152, Number 1, April 2008 , pp. 127-137(11)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

Summary

In pulmonary sarcoidosis, the typical T helper 1-mediated immune response in the lungs has been proposed to be co-ordinated by regulatory T cells; however, their exact role needs to be clarified. We used real-time polymerase chain reaction to study genes involved in regulatory T cell functions in CD4⁺ T cells isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of patients (n = 24) and healthy subjects (n = 7). The genes included the transcription factor forkhead box P3 (FoxP3), interleukin (IL)-10, transforming growth factor-β1 and chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2). The same genes were also studied in isolated BALF CD4⁺ T cell receptor AV2S3⁺ and AV2S3^- T cells of patients with lung-restricted AV2S3 T cell expansions (n = 12). Intracellular staining of the FoxP3 protein was performed additionally in 14 patients and nine healthy subjects. mRNA expression of FoxP3, CCR2 and IL-10 was decreased significantly in BALF CD4⁺ T cells of patients. Flow cytometric analysis of CD4⁺ T cells also demonstrated a decreased frequency of FoxP3⁺ cells in the BALF and blood of sarcoidosis patients as well as a reduced intensity (mean fluorescence intensity) of FoxP3 expression in BALF FoxP3⁺ cells of patients. BALF CD4⁺AV2S3⁺ T cells expressed significantly lower levels of FoxP3 and CCR2 mRNA versus BALF CD4⁺AV2S3^- T cells. The main conclusion of our study is that there is a reduced expression of regulatory T cell associated genes in BALF CD4⁺ T cells in sarcoidosis. In addition, our data suggest an effector function of AV2S3⁺ lung-accumulated T cells in sarcoidosis.

Keywords: bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; chemokine receptor 2; forkhead box P3; regulatory T cells; sarcoidosis

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2249.2008.03609.x

Publication date: 2008-04-01

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• In this Subject: Microbiology ,  Allergy & Immunology
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