It has been demonstrated that severe burn per se may contribute to activation and proliferation of regulatory T cells (Treg). This characteristic phenomenon might allow Treg to function for a prolonged period of time to regulate immune response, and to induce suppression of T lymphocyte immune function. Different degrees of elevated levels of cytokines produced by Treg and activation markers on Treg surface could also be involved in the development of sepsis and fatal outcome in patients with severe burn. Thus, the regulation of Treg as a cellular therapeutic strategy might be important to the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance in burn patients complicated with sepsis.
Burns ; immunology ; Humans ; Sepsis ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology

Humans ; Lung ; immunology ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology

Regulatory T cells (Treg) are functionally mature T cell subpopulations which are key players of maintaining the balance of immunological defense system. Treg can proliferate in vivo or in vitro by antigen specific way or non-antigen specific way, and actively control the properties of other immune cells by suppressing their functional activity and their proliferation as well.
Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology

Humans ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; virology

Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte ; immunology ; HLA Antigens ; immunology ; Hepatitis B virus ; immunology ; Humans ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology

The autoantigenic epitopes carried by the platelet glycoprotein in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) have been observed to localize on the specific regions of glycoprotein. There is a limited number of autoantigenic epitopes on the respective glycoproteins. The clonal B-cell and/or T cell expansion have been detected in some patients with ITP, and the autoantibodies is clonally derived. This research is of clinical importance since identification of clonally derived autoantibodies not only may help to discover the pathogenesis of ITP but also lead to less toxic and more specific therapies. In this review, the clonal limitation of autoantibody and clonal expansion of B-lymphocyte is ITP, clonal characteristics of T-lymphocyte in ITP, and significance of research on clones in ITP were discussed and summarized.
Autoantibodies ; immunology ; B-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Epitopes ; Humans ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; etiology ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology

Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of Ara-C in regulating anti-CD3/anti-Pgp mediating T-lymphocytes activities against multi-drug resistant leukemia cells.

METHODSThe diabody of anti-CD3/anti-Pgp was purified by E-tag affinity chromatography. K562 and K562/A02 cells were treated with Ara-C. The expressions of B7-1 and B7-2 on K562 and K562/AO2 cells were detected by FACS. The cytotoxicity of T-lymphocytes combined with anti-CD3/anU-Pgp plus Ara-C was analyzed by CytoTox 96 nonradioactive method.

RESULTSThe expressions of B7-1 and B7-2 on K562 and K562/A02 cells treated by Ara-C was significantly higher than those untreated. The effect/target ratio was from 0.39:1 to 25:1, and the killing rate of activated T cells to anti-drug-resistant leukemia cells was from (16.44 +/- 1.20)% to (60.49 +/- 2.90)%. The killing rates were increased gradually, with both the effect/target ratio and the antibody concentration increasing (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAra-C may be an important adjuvant for improving anti-CD3/anti-Pgp mediating T-lymphocytes activities against multi-drug resistant leukemia cells.

It is now established that CD4(+)CD25(+)regulatory T (Treg) cells expressing transcription factor FOXP3, a regulatory subpopulation of T cells, is indispensable for the maintenance of immunological self-tolerance and immune homeostasis. FOXP3 expression in Treg cells is specific and it is the key control factor for the development, activation and function of Treg cells. At present, CD4(+)FOXP3(+)T lymphocytes are often used to define Treg cells for scientific research. But recent studies show that human CD4(+)FOXP3(+)T cells are phenotypically and functionally heterogeneous, including suppressive and non suppressive T cells. The different functions of these cell subsets can be distinguished by phenotypic differences. This review discusses the recent research progress about phenotypic characteristics and functional heterogeneity of CD4(+)FOXP3(+)T cell subsets.
Forkhead Transcription Factors ; immunology ; Humans ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology

T cell immunity and phagocytic activity were studied in the blood of patients with IgA nephropathy in order to clarify their roles in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy. The percentages of total T lymphocytes, helper T cell and suppressor T cells were significantly reduced in patients. A significantly elevated helper T cell/suppressor T cell ratio in patients showed a predominant reduction in suppressor T cells. There was a significant relationship between histologic findings and helper T cell/suppressor T cell ratio in patients. Natural Killer (NK) cell activity was significantly reduced but the lymphocyte response after phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation was not in patients. ConA-induced suppressor cell activity was not depressed despite of a decrease in suppressor T cells in patients. Phagocytic activity of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) ingesting yeasts was significantly reduced in patients. Also an inverse correlation was found between serum IgA levels and phagocytic activity of PMN. It is concluded that suppressor T cell defects, depressed phagocytic activity and impaired NK cell activity may play a role in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy.
B-Lymphocytes/immunology ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA/*immunology/pathology ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural/immunology ; Neutrophils/immunology ; *Phagocytosis ; T-Lymphocytes/*immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology