Animals ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Humans ; Periodontal Diseases ; immunology ; pathology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th17 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

CD4+ T lymphocytes play a major role in regulation of adaptive immunity. Upon activation, naive T cells differentiate into different functional subsets. In addition to the classical Th1 and Th2 cells, several novel effector T cell subsets have been recently identified, including Th17 cells. There has been rapid progress in characterizing the development and function of Th17 cells. Here I summarize and discuss on the genetic controls of their differentiation and emerging evidence on their plasticity. This information may benefit understanding and treating immune diseases.
Animals ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/cytology/*immunology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Lineage ; Cytokines/*genetics ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Interleukin-17/immunology/metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Th1 Cells/immunology ; Th17 Cells/*immunology ; Th2 Cells/immunology ; Transcription Factors/*genetics ; Transcription, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo investigate the compositions of Th1/Th2/Th3 cells in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected individuals by determining the expression of interleukin-4 (IL-4), inetrferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and transform growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in single CD4(+) T cells isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the role of polarized Th cell populations in chronic HBV-infection was discussed.

METHODSPBMCs from chronically infected HBV individuals were isolated, stimulated by PMA/Ionomycin/Monensin, and IL-4, IFN-gamma and TGF-beta production by CD4(+) T cells was determined by using fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis.

RESULTSThe percentage of IFN-gamma-producing T cells, IL-4-producing T cells and TGF-beta-producing T cells ranged from 2.3% - 18.6%, 1.1% - 8.7% and 0.7% - 7.1% respectively in CD4(+) T cells from non-infected individuals. Most of CD4(+) T cells from PBMCs in chronically infected HBV individuals were Th0 cells. The proportion of Th1 cells increased significantly with hepatic inflammatory activity, and in the active period of chronic hepatitis B infection were higher than those in the non-active period (P < 0.05). Th2 cell percentage in CD4(+) T cells from HBV-infected individuals did not differ significantly (P > 0.05), but were higher than that from controls (P < 0.05). Th3 cell percentage in CD4(+) T cells from asymptomatic carrier (AsC) group was higher than that in the chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and control groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTh1 phenotype cytokines were positively correlated with hepatic inflammatory activity in chronic hepatitis B and Th2 cells may be associated with the persistence of HBV infection. Th3 cells cooperating with Th2 cells can negatively regulate immune responses and may be associated with the immune tolerant state of chronic HBV infection.

CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; biosynthesis ; Interleukin-4 ; biosynthesis ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer ; immunology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; biosynthesis

This study was aimed to detect the level of the peripheral blood Breg and CD4(+) T cell subgroups in patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (CITP) before and after therapy, and to analyse the charge of related cytokines and their correlation, to explore their roles in the pathogenesis of CITP. A total of 35 CITP cases were taken as the research group and 35 healthy persons were served as the control group. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) were separated, the percentages of Th1, Th17, Th22 and Breg cells were detected by flow cytometry before and after treatment of glucocorticoid, and the IFN-γ, IL-17, IL-22 and IL-10 levels from PBMNC culture supernatant also were determined by ELISA. The results showed that there was significant difference as compared with the healthy controls, the proportion of peripheral blood Th1, Th17, Th22 cell subgroups all increased in CITP patients before treatment with glucocorticoid, the regulatory B cells (Breg) ratio was reduced, the differences had statistical significance (P < 0.05), but the differences were no statistically significant after treatment with glucocorticoid (P > 0.05). The levels of IFN-γ, IL-17, IL-22 from culture supernatant all increased in CITP patients before treatment, the level of IL-10 was lower than that of the healthy control, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05), but the there were no statistically significant differences after treatment (P > 0.05). There were positive correlation between the Breg cells and IL-10 expression in CITP patients (P < 0.05), the Breg cells and Th1, Th17, Th22 cells showed a negative correlation, IL-10 and IFN-γ, IL-17, IL-22 levels also showed a negative correlation. It is concluded that the down-regulation of regulatory B cells proportion and the IL-10 level may participate in the mechanism of CD4(+) T cell immunity disorder in CITP, which can provide new targets and ideas for the clinical immune regulation therapy.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; cytology ; immunology ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; Case-Control Studies ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; blood ; immunology ; Th1 Cells ; Th17 Cells ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDSystemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease that has three major components: inflammation, fibrosis, and vasculopathy. T-helper 17 cell (Th17) and regulatory T cell (Treg) are considered to be critical for autoimmune disease pathogenesis. The role of Th17 and Treg in SSc is still unclear. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of Th17s and CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs in peripheral blood samples from SSc patients and to investigate the possible roles of these two T cell subsets in SSc pathogenesis.

METHODSTh17s (CD4 and IL-17 positive) and CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs (CD4, CD25 and Foxp3 positive) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 53 SSc patients and 27 healthy controls were counted by flow cytometry. The differences between SSc and control patients were analyzed. Clinical parameters, including disease duration, duration of the second symptoms, Modified Rodnan Skin Score (MRSS), anti-topoisomerase I antibody, anti-U1 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) antibody, systemic involvements, pulmonary function test (PFT) and high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) score were prospectively collected following EUSTAR (EULAR scleroderma trial and research group) protocols. The correlations between the experimental and clinical data were investigated.

RESULTSThe ratio of Th17 in SSc patients was significantly elevated compared to healthy controls (8.74% vs. 4.41%, P < 0.001). The amount of Th17 was positively correlated with disease duration (R = 0.531, P = 0.013) and duration of the second symptoms (R = 0.505, P = 0.023). The ratio of CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg in SSc patients also significantly differed from the healthy controls (3.04% vs. 2.24%, P = 0.018). Elevated Tregs were more frequently observed in patients with a high interstitial lung disease (ILD) score on computed tomography (24/36) compared with patients with normal ILD scores (4/12, P = 0.043). Elevated Tregs were also more often observed in patients with low carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) (24/34) compared with patients with normal DLCO (4/11, P = 0.042).

CONCLUSIONST cell abnormalities are remarkable in systemic sclerosis. Th17s proliferate and their numbers increase with lengthened disease duration. Th17s might participate in both inflammation and fibrosis by secreting IL-17. CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs also proliferate in SSc and may play important roles in promoting fibrosis.

CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; immunology ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology ; metabolism ; Th17 Cells ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDRecent recognition is that Th2 response is insufficient to fully explain the aetiology of asthma. Other CD4(+) T cells subsets might play a role in asthma. We investigated the relative abundance and activities of Th1, Th2, Th17 and CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg cells in patients with allergic asthma.

METHODSTwenty-two patients with mild asthma, 17 patients with moderate to severe asthma and 20 healthy donors were enrolled. All patients were allergic to house dust mites. Plasma total IgE, pulmonary function and Asthma Control Questionnaire were assessed. The proportions of peripheral blood Th1, Th2, Th17 and CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg cells were determined by flow cytometry. The expression of cytokines in plasma and in the culture supernatant of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was determined by enzyme linked, immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSThe frequency of blood Th2 cells and IL-4 levels in plasma and culture supernatant of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were increased in all patients with allergic asthma. The frequency of Th17 cells and the plasma and culture supernatant levels of IL-17 were increased, whereas the frequency of CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg cells and plasma IL-10 levels were decreased in patients with moderate to severe asthma. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus specific IgE levels were positively correlated with the percentage of blood Th2 cells and plasma IL-4 levels. Forced expiratory volume in the first second was negatively correlated with the frequency of Th17 cells and plasma IL-17 levels, and positively correlated with the frequency of Treg cells. However, mean Asthma Control Questionnaire scores were positively correlated with the frequency of Th17 cells and plasma IL-17 levels, and negatively correlated with the frequency of Treg cells.

CONCLUSIONSImbalances in Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg were found in patients with allergic asthma. Furthermore, elevated Th17 cell responses, the absence of Tregs and an imbalance in Th17/Treg levels were associated with moderate to severe asthma.

Adult ; Asthma ; immunology ; metabolism ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-17 ; immunology ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Male ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology ; metabolism ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; Cell Differentiation ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory

The essential effect of vitamin A on immune function occurs through various mechanisms including direct effect on Th1-Th2 balance modulation. However, it is unclear whether or not vitamin A can regulate Th1-Th2 balance under a strong Th1-polarizing condition. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to examine the effect of vitamin A metabolite all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on Th1-Th2 differentiation in CD4+ T cells under GATA-3 deficiency, which can induce Th1-polarizing condition. In the present study, GATA-3 deficiency T cells were induced by siRNA and checked by real-time quantitative PCR and western blot. GATA-3 deficiency CD4+ T cells and normal CD4+ T were treated for 48 h with or without ATRA. The expression of Th1 and Th2 cytokines were detected by qPCR and ELISA. The results would contribute to clarify the knowledge of the role of vitamin A in regulating Th1-Th2 balance under some special conditions, and help to explain the mechanism of immune regulatory function of vitamin A.
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; GATA3 Transcription Factor ; deficiency ; Humans ; Th1-Th2 Balance ; drug effects ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology

CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) play a fundamental role in the establishment and maintenance of immune tolerance. In a some of experimental models, it was found that Tregs can quench autoimmune diseases, maintain allogeneic transplants, and prevent allergic diseases. A major obstacle to their clinical application is related to their definitive phenotype and very limited number of these cells in peripheral circulation, no more than 5%-10% of total CD4+ T cells. Recent progress of technologies for Treg sorting with multicolor flow cytometry and immuno-absorbing columns has overcome these obstacles, and opened the doors to the clinical application of Treg. This review highlight the characteristics of Treg, describe the current information of cell sorting and ex vivo expansion techniques, and outline the adoptive transfer experiments and clinical trials of immunotherapy that have been developed in recent years. It is foreseeable that Treg adoptive transfusion will be a promising immunosuppressive therapy.
Autoimmune Diseases ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; Immunotherapy ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory

Adult ; Aged ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-17 ; blood ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; blood ; immunology ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer