Functional characterization of CD4+ T cells in aplastic anemia

Blood. 2012 Mar 1;119(9):2033-43. doi: 10.1182/blood-2011-08-368308. Epub 2011 Dec 2.

Abstract

The role of CD4(+) T cells in the pathogenesis of aplastic anemia (AA) is not well characterized. We investigate CD4(+) T-cell subsets in AA. Sixty-three patients with acquired AA were studied. Th1 and Th2 cells were significantly higher in AA patients than in healthy donors (HDs; P = .03 and P = .006). Tregs were significantly lower in patients with severe AA than in HDs (P < .001) and patients with non-severe AA (P = .01). Th17 cells were increased in severe AA (P = .02) but normal in non-severe AA. Activated and resting Tregs were reduced in AA (P = .004; P = .01), whereas cytokine-secreting non-Tregs were increased (P = .003). Tregs from AA patients were unable to suppress normal effector T cells. In contrast, AA effector T cells were suppressible by Tregs from HDs. Th1 clonality in AA, investigated by high-throughput sequencing, was greater than in HDs (P = .03). Our results confirm that Th1 and Th2 cells are expanded and Tregs are functionally abnormal in AA. The clonally restricted expansion of Th1 cells is most likely to be antigen-driven, and induces an inflammatory environment, that exacerbate the functional impairment of Tregs, which are reduced in number.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anemia, Aplastic / drug therapy
  • Anemia, Aplastic / genetics
  • Anemia, Aplastic / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cytokines / blood
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / genetics
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell