Increased CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells in peripheral blood of celiac disease patients: correlation with dietary treatment

Hum Immunol. 2009 Jun;70(6):430-5. doi: 10.1016/j.humimm.2009.04.006. Epub 2009 Apr 11.

Abstract

Regulatory CD4+ CD25+Foxp3+ T cells are involved in the regulation of immune response and inhibit protective antitumor immunity. Celiac disease (CD), a food gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is considered a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease and is generally associated with an overall increased risk of cancer in CD patients. We observed a higher percentage of circulating CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells and an increased Foxp3 expression in CD4+CD25+ T cells from untreated than from treated CD patients. In co-culture, CD4+CD25+ T cells from both treated and untreated CD patients significantly suppressed the proliferation of autologous CD4+CD25(-) T cells similarly to values in healthy subjects. Our study suggests that Treg proportion and Foxp3 expression in circulating CD4+CD25+ T cells could justify the increased global risk of malignancy in CD population and support the efficacy of lifelong gluten-free diet in the reduction of the cancer risk.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • CD4 Antigens / blood*
  • CD4 Antigens / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Celiac Disease / diet therapy*
  • Celiac Disease / immunology
  • Celiac Disease / pathology
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Diet, Gluten-Free*
  • Female
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / blood*
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / immunology
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / blood*
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / immunology
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / pathology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • CD4 Antigens
  • FOXP3 protein, human
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit