Frequency and functional activity of Th17, Tc17 and other T-cell subsets in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Ana Henriques; Luís Inês; Maura Couto; Susana Pedreiro; Catarina Santos; Mariana Magalhães; Paulo Santos; Isabel Velada; Anabela Almeida; Tiago Carvalheiro; Paula Laranjeira; José Mário Morgado; Maria Luísa Pais; José António Pereira da Silva; Artur Paiva

doi:10.1016/j.cellimm.2010.05.004

Frequency and functional activity of Th17, Tc17 and other T-cell subsets in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Cell Immunol. 2010;264(1):97-103. doi: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2010.05.004. Epub 2010 May 11.

Authors

Ana Henriques¹, Luís Inês, Maura Couto, Susana Pedreiro, Catarina Santos, Mariana Magalhães, Paulo Santos, Isabel Velada, Anabela Almeida, Tiago Carvalheiro, Paula Laranjeira, José Mário Morgado, Maria Luísa Pais, José António Pereira da Silva, Artur Paiva

Affiliation

¹ Centro de Histocompatibilidade do Centro, Portugal.

PMID: 20553755
DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2010.05.004

Abstract

To compare frequency and functional activity of peripheral blood (PB) Th(c)17, Th(c)1 and Treg cells and the amount of type 2 cytokines mRNA we recruited SLE patients in active (n=15) and inactive disease (n=19) and healthy age- and gender-matched controls (n=15). The study of Th(c)17, Th(c)1 and Treg cells was done by flow cytometry and cytokine mRNA by real-time PCR. Compared to NC, SLE patients present an increased proportion of Th(c)17 cells, but with lower amounts of IL-17 per cell and also a decreased frequency of Treg, but with increased production of TGF-beta and FoxP3 mRNA. Iotan active compared to inactive SLE, there is a marked decreased in frequency of Th(c)1 cells, an increased production of type 2 cytokines mRNA and a distinct functional profile of Th(c)17 cells. Our findings suggest a functional disequilibrium of T-cell subsets in SLE which may contribute to the inflammatory process and disease pathogenesis.

Publication types

Comparative Study

MeSH terms

Adult
Antigens, CD / biosynthesis
Cell Count
Cell Separation
Female
Flow Cytometry
Forkhead Transcription Factors / biosynthesis
Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics
Gene Expression Regulation
Humans
Interleukin-17 / biosynthesis
Interleukin-17 / genetics
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / immunology*
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / pathology
Male
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism*
T-Lymphocyte Subsets / pathology
T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology
T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / metabolism*
T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / pathology
T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism*
T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / pathology
Th2 Cells / immunology
Th2 Cells / metabolism*
Th2 Cells / pathology
Transforming Growth Factor beta / biosynthesis
Transforming Growth Factor beta / genetics
Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism

Substances

Antigens, CD
FOXP3 protein, human
Forkhead Transcription Factors
Interleukin-17
Transforming Growth Factor beta