Increased pro-inflammatory cytokine-secreting regulatory T cells are correlated with the plasticity of T helper cell differentiation and reflect disease status in asthma.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Human regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a heterogeneous population which consists of three distinct subpopulations: CD25+CD45RA+ resting Treg (rTreg) cells; CD25hiCD45RA- activated Treg (aTreg) cells, which are both suppressive; and CD25+CD45RA- cytokine-secreting T cells with pro-inflammatory capacity.

OBJECTIVE:

We investigated variation in peripheral Treg subpopulations of asthma and explored their potential roles in asthma inflammation.

METHODS:

Twenty-eight mild asthma patients, 26 moderate asthma patients, 18 severe asthma patients, and 36 healthy controls were recruited for a cross-sectional study. Phenotyping of peripheral CD4+ Tregs was performed based on flow cytometry results.

RESULTS:

The proportions of rTreg and aTreg cells among CD4+ T cells were higher in mild and moderate asthma patients than in healthy controls. All three groups of asthmatics had a higher proportion of pro-inflammatory Tregs than healthy controls, and these increased with asthma severity. The proportion of IL-17-producing Foxp3+ cells and IFN-ɤ-producing Foxp3+ cells strongly correlated with T helper 17 (Th17) cells (r = 0.66, p < 0.001) and Th1 cells (r = 0.48, p < 0.001). The pro-inflammatory Treg subpopulation was correlated with the severity of asthma and may be insensitive to corticosteroids.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our data suggest that pro-inflammatory Treg subpopulations may be relevant to the plasticity of Th17 and Th1 differentiation and play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma.

• Authors: Lei Xin, Junjie Gao, Xiahui Ge, Chenxuan Tian, Weirong Ma, Zhigang Tian, Xiwei Zheng, Jia Hou
• Journal: Respiratory medicine (Respir Med) Vol. 143 Pg. 129-138 (10 2018) ISSN: 1532-3064 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 30261984 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Chemical References

• Cytokines
• Inflammation Mediators

Topics

• Adult
• Asthma (etiology, immunology)
• Cell Plasticity
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Cytokines (metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Inflammation Mediators (metabolism)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Severity of Illness Index
• T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory (metabolism)
• Th1 Cells (physiology)
• Th17 Cells (physiology)
• Young Adult