Subpopulations of regulatory T-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

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Abstract

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory rheumatic disease, associated with a dysfunction of the T cell-mediated tolerance and leading to the disability of working population.  The regulatory CD4+ T cells are play important role in the regulation of autoimmunity and can suppress immune responses. With that, there is no consensus on the content of  these lymphocytes  and their role in the pathogenesis of RA.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the content of peripheral blood regulatory T cells (Treg) according to the expression of membrane markers CD4, CD25, CD127 and intracellular FOXP3 marker, as well as the expression of two functional molecules (CTLA-4 and CCR4) in Treg cells of patients with RA.

Methods: Peripheral blood samples of RA patients (mean age 61,1±10,5) and healthy controls (mean age 52,2±14,0) were analyzed. Cell count and the expression level of molecules were assessed by flow cytometry.

Results: Peripheral blood samples of 36 RA patients and 20 healthy donors were analyzed. The number of the cells with Treg-associated phenotypes CD4+CD25hi and CD4+CD25hiCD127low/– was higher in RA patients in comparison with healthy donors. Increased levels of RA CD4+ T cells expressing FOXP3 were also observed. This may be due to increasing in the number of CD4+FOXP3+CD25- lymphocytes, whereas the content of RA CD4+FOXP3+CD25+ Treg cells was at the level of the control. The expression of the functional molecule CTLA-4 in Treg cells of patients with RA was not different from the control, while the expression level of the chemokine receptor CCR4, which provides migration of lymphocytes at sites of inflammation and barrier tissues, was significantly increased in RA patients. 

Conclusion: Increase in the levels of certain Treg-associated lymphocyte populations were detected in peripheral blood of RA patients. During the natural course of RA, alterations in the level of the chemokine receptor CCR4 might indicate the enhanced lymphocyte migration.

About the authors

P. N. Kravchenko

Karelian Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Petrozavodsk

Author for correspondence.
Email: k-polina13@mail.ru
MD, Junior Researcher Россия

G. A. Zhulai

Karelian Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Petrozavodsk

Email: zhgali-111@rambler.ru
MD, Junior Researcher Россия

A. V. Churov

Karelian Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Petrozavodsk

Email: achurou@yandex.ru
PhD in Biology Россия

E. K. Oleinik

Karelian Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Petrozavodsk

Email: ole@krc.karelia.ru
PhD in Biology, Associate Professor,Chief Researcher Россия

V. M. Oleinik

Karelian Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Petrozavodsk

Email: scigraph@yandex.ru
PhD in Biology, Leading Researcher Россия

O. Yu. Barysheva

Petrozavodsk State University, Petrozavodsk

Email: olgar@karelia.ru

Доктор медицинских наук, доцент, профессор кафедры госпитальной терапии медицинского института. 

Адрес: 185910, Республика Карелия, Петрозаводск, пр. Ленина, д. 33

Россия

N. N. Vezikova

Petrozavodsk State University, Petrozavodsk

Email: vezikov23@mail.ru
MD, PhD. Professor, Head of Department Россия

I. M. Marusenko

Petrozavodsk State University, Petrozavodsk

Email: feva@karelia.ru
MD, PhD. Professor Россия

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