Relatively Increased Number of Liver Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells against Hepatic Lesions in Murine Lupus
10.1007/sl1596-011-0476-2
- Author:
YU LIKAI
1
;
HUANG ANBIN
;
WANG WEIWEI
;
DU RONG
;
SHEN LINGXUN
;
HOU XIAOHUA
Author Information
1. Department of Rheumatology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Keywords:
Foxp3;
hepatic lesion;
lupus;
BXSB mice
- From:
Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Medical Sciences)
2011;31(4):476-481
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multiple organ autoimmune disorder,including theliver,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 trinscription 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 (P＜0.05),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 (P＜0.05),but there was no significant difference in the livers of the BXSB mice (P＞0.05).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 (P＜0.05).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.
