Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (
MODS) is a systemic
inflammation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) in patients with
MODS and to determine the association between Treg cells and serum
cytokine levels. The percentage of Treg in 42
MODS patients and 10 healthy subjects was evaluated using flow cytometry. Serum levels of
cytokines were measured using an
enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay. The percentage of Treg cells was significantly elevated in patients with
MODS on Day 1 (P<0.05). At Day 7, the percentage of Treg cells in
MODS patients was reduced, but remained higher in comparison with the control group (P<0.05). The CD4+/CD8+ ratio and the levels of
tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α),
interleukin (IL)-2,
IL-4,
IL-6,
IL-8,
IL-10 and IL-1β were significantly enhanced in patients with
MODS by Day 1. TNF-α,
IL-2,
IL-4 and
IL-10 levels were gradually reduced to normal by Day 7, whereas the
IL-6,
IL-8 and IL-1β levels remained higher compared with the healthy subjects (P<0.001). The present results demonstrated an elevated percentage of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells in patients with
MODS. Therefore, the proinflammatory
cytokines TNF-α,
IL-2,
IL-6,
IL-8 may promote
MODS development, whereas the anti-inflammatory
cytokines IL-4 and
IL-10 may protect against
MODS.