Relatively Increased Number of Liver Foxp3~＋ Regulatory T Cells against Hepatic Lesions in Murine Lupus

• Published in: Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Medical sciences Vol. 31; no. 4; pp. 476 - 481
• Main Author: 余立凯 黄安斌 王玮炜 杜戎 沈凌汛 侯晓华
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Huazhong University of Science and Technology 01.08.2011
• Subjects: Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; 小鼠; 程序性细胞死亡; 系统性红斑狼疮; 肝脏病变; 自身免疫性疾病; 调节性T细胞; 逆转录聚合酶链反应; 酶联免疫吸附试验; Foxp3; lupus; hepatic lesion; BXSB mice
• DOI: 10.1007/s11596-011-0476-2
• ISSN: 1672-0733

Systemic lupus erythematosus（SLE） is a multiple organ autoimmune disorder,including the liver,but the possible reason in impairment in the liver is still unclear.Our present study assessed alterations of transcription factor Foxp3＋ regulatory T cells（Tregs） and several other immune molecules [programmed cell death 1 and its ligand（PD1 and PD-L1）,and interleukin 10（IL-10） and transform growth factor β（TGF-β）] in the liver and other major organs of lupus-prone BXSB mice by flow cytometry,real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results showed that both frequency and number of Foxp3＋ Tregs were dramatically reduced in the thymus,spleen and kidney of the BXSB mice（P0.05）,but those in the liver were kept in nearly normal range,when compared to negative control C57BL/6 mice.In comparison to control mice,the mRNA levels of Foxp3,PD1 and PD-L1 were significantly decreased in the kidneys of BXSB mice（P0.05）,but there was no significant difference in the livers of the BXSB mice（P0.05）.Protein levels of IL-10 and TGF-β in serum showed no significant difference between BXSB and C57BL/6 mice,but were significantly increased in the kidneys and livers of BXSB mice as compared with those in C57BL/6 mice（P0.05）.These results suggest that reduced Foxp3＋ Tregs are involved in the pathogenesis of SLE in BXSB mice,and relatively higher number of these cells in the livers than in the other target organs could constitute a protective mechanism against hepatic lesions in lupus-prone mice,which may provide insights into development of new therapeutic approaches in SLE patients.