Frequency of Treg Cells Is Reduced in CVID Patients with Autoimmunity and Splenomegaly and Is Associated with Expanded CD21lo B Lymphocytes

G Arumugakani, PMD Wood, CRD Carter - Journal of clinical immunology, 2010 - Springer
G Arumugakani, PMD Wood, CRD Carter
Journal of clinical immunology, 2010Springer
Introduction Common variable immunodeficiency is a heterogeneous antibody deficiency
syndrome with autoimmune and inflammatory complications in a significant proportion of
patients. The study was designed to evaluate the role of T regulatory (Treg) cells in common
variable immunodeficiency (CVID) patients with autoimmunity. Methods The number and
frequency of Treg cells (CD4+, CD25 hi, Foxp3+) were evaluated in patients and controls,
and Foxp3 expression in different subgroups of CVID patients with common clinical …
Introduction
Common variable immunodeficiency is a heterogeneous antibody deficiency syndrome with autoimmune and inflammatory complications in a significant proportion of patients. The study was designed to evaluate the role of T regulatory (Treg) cells in common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) patients with autoimmunity.
Methods
The number and frequency of Treg cells (CD4+, CD25hi, Foxp3+) were evaluated in patients and controls, and Foxp3 expression in different subgroups of CVID patients with common clinical manifestations was compared.
Results
CVID patients had significantly fewer Treg cells than controls, and low frequency of Treg cells was associated with expansion of CD21lo B cells in patients. Patients with autoimmunity had significantly reduced frequency but normal numbers of regulatory T cells, whilst patients with splenomegaly had significant reduction in frequency and number of regulatory T cells.
Conclusion
Foxp3 is useful on its own or as an adjunct to classify CVID patients although the possibility of reduction in Treg cells as a secondary phenomenon cannot be excluded.
Springer