Features of the Phenotype of Regulatory T Cells in Early and Advanced Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the levels of CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+, and CD3-CD56+ T lymphocytes, FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg), and CD19+ B lymphocytes in patients with early and advanced rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Subjects and methods. The investigation enrolled 45 patients previously untreated with methotrexate (MTX-naive) who had early RA and 15 patients who had advanced RA. Immunofluorescence staining and multicolor flow cytometry assays were used to estimate the percentage and absolute (abs) counts of CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+, CD3-CD16+CD56+, CD19+, Treg(FoxP3+CD25+; surface CD152+; intracellular CD152+; FoxP3+CD127; CD25+CD127-; FoxP3+ICOS+; FoxP3+CD154+; and FoxP3+CD274+. Results and discussion. The patients with early RA were found to have a lower percentage of FoxP3+CD25+ cells and lower percentages and abs counts of FoxP3+ ICOS+ cells, FoxP3+CD154+ cells, and FoxP3+ CD274+ T cells than healthy donors (p<0.05 in all cases). The patients with advanced RA were also recorded to have a lower percentage of FoxP3+CD25+ cells and lower percentages and abs contents of FoxP3+ ICOS+ cells, FoxP3+CD154+ cells, and FoxP3+ CD274+ T cells (p><0.05 in all cases). The patients with advanced RA compared to those with early RA had a higher content of CD4+ lymphocytes (50.7 [44.4; 53.1] and 45.0 [38.0; 49.2]) and lower percentages of CD25+CD127- T lymphocytes (5.0 [4.0; 5.7] and 6.5 [5.1; 7.9] respectively; p><0.05 in all cases). Conclusion. Patients with RA (with the early or advanced stage of the disease) show a decrease in both the counts and functional activity of Treg. The patients with advanced RA compared with those with early RA showed an increase in CD4+ lymphocyte counts and a decrease in CD25+CD127- cell levels, which suggests that there are more pronounced impairments in Treg homeostasis in advanced RA. Keywords: early rheumatoid arthritis; T lymphocytes; B lymphocytes; regulatory T cells><0.05 in all cases). The patients with advanced RA were also recorded to have a lower percentage of FoxP3+CD25+ cells and lower percentages and abs contents of FoxP3+ ICOS+ cells, FoxP3+CD154+ cells, and FoxP3+ CD274+ T cells (p<0.05 in all cases). The patients with advanced RA compared to those with early RA had a higher content of CD4+ lymphocytes (50.7 [44.4; 53.1] and 45.0 [38.0; 49.2]) and lower percentages of CD25+CD127- T lymphocytes (5.0 [4.0; 5.7] and 6.5 [5.1; 7.9] respectively; p><0.05 in all cases). Conclusion. Patients with RA (with the early or advanced stage of the disease) show a decrease in both the counts and functional activity of Treg. The patients with advanced RA compared with those with early RA showed an increase in CD4+ lymphocyte counts and a decrease in CD25+CD127- cell levels, which suggests that there are more pronounced impairments in Treg homeostasis in advanced RA. Keywords: early rheumatoid arthritis; T lymphocytes; B lymphocytes; regulatory T cells><0.05 in all cases). The patients with advanced RA compared to those with early RA had a higher content of CD4+ lymphocytes (50.7 [44.4; 53.1] and 45.0 [38.0; 49.2]) and lower percentages of CD25+CD127- T lymphocytes (5.0 [4.0; 5.7] and 6.5 [5.1; 7.9] respectively; p<0.05 in all cases). Conclusion. Patients with RA (with the early or advanced stage of the disease) show a decrease in both the counts and functional activity of Treg. The patients with advanced RA compared with those with early RA showed an increase in CD4+ lymphocyte counts and a decrease in CD25+CD127- cell levels, which suggests that there are more pronounced impairments in Treg homeostasis in advanced RA. Keywords: early rheumatoid arthritis; T lymphocytes; B lymphocytes; regulatory T cells><0.05 in all cases). Conclusion. Patients with RA (with the early or advanced stage of the disease) show a decrease in both the counts and functional activity of Treg. The patients with advanced RA compared with those with early RA showed an increase in CD4+ lymphocyte counts and a decrease in CD25+CD127- cell levels, which suggests that there are more pronounced impairments in Treghomeostasis in advanced RA.