Abstract |
Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most frequent autoimmune bullous skin disease, characterised by auto- antibodies against the hemidesmosome complex. Recently, regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been implicated in the development of several autoimmune diseases; few data are available in BP, failing to demonstrate a role of this subset in disease pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and phenotypes of different Tregs (CD4+ CD25brightFOXP3+ and CD8+ CD28- cells) in BP to clarify whether the depletion of this subset constitutes one mechanism of tolerance loss. The CD4+ CD25brightFOXP3 and CD8+ CD28- circulating subsets were determined by flow-cytometry in 26 untreated BP patients and compared with a group of age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC, n = 30). Absolute and percentage values of the CD4+ CD25brightFOXP3+ cells were significantly reduced in BP compared with HC (median CD25brightFOXP3+ expression within CD4+ cells: 1.8 vs. 3.5%, p = 0.002); conversely, BP patients were characterised by a significant expansion of the CD25brightFOXP3- "activated" T-cell subset. CCR4 and CD62L were expressed on the majority of CD4+ CD25brightFOXP3+ cells (75.2 and 82.3%, respectively). No differences in the CD8+ CD28- subset were found between BP and HC. This is the first report showing a significant reduction of circulating CD4+ CD25brightFOXP3+ Treg frequency in BP patients.
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Authors | P Quaglino, E Antiga, A Comessatti, M Caproni, T Nardò, R Ponti, M Novelli, S Osella-Abate, P Fabbri, M G Bernengo |
Journal | Archives of dermatological research
(Arch Dermatol Res)
Vol. 304
Issue 8
Pg. 639-45
(Oct 2012)
ISSN: 1432-069X [Electronic] Germany |
PMID | 22310732
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- CD4 Antigens
- FOXP3 protein, human
- Forkhead Transcription Factors
- Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit
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Topics |
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Blood Circulation
(immunology)
- CD4 Antigens
(metabolism)
- Cell Separation
- Female
- Flow Cytometry
- Forkhead Transcription Factors
(metabolism)
- Humans
- Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit
(metabolism)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Pemphigoid, Bullous
(immunology)
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets
(immunology)
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
(immunology)
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