Deficiency of regulatory T cells in children with autoimmune neutropenia

Kazuhiro Nakamura, Mizuka Miki, Yoko Mizoguchi, Syuhei Karakawa, Takashi Sato, Masao Kobayashi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

CD4+ 25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a role in controlling the development and progression of autoimmunity. The transcription factors Foxp3 and NFATC2 (NFAT1) play key roles in regulating the development and function of Tregs. The present study examined the involvement of Tregs in the pathophysiology of autoimmune neutropenia in children. Tregs were analysed by flow cytometry, based on the expressions of CD4, CD25, and intracellular Foxp3. The expressions of FOXP3 and NFATC2 mRNA in the CD4+ 25 + cells were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The percentage of CD4+ 25high Tregs in patients with autoimmune neutropenia was significantly lower than that in age-matched healthy subjects. The intracellular expression of Foxp3 of CD4+ 25+ cells in patients similarly decreased in comparison to that in healthy subjects. The expression of FOXP3 and NFATC2 mRNA of CD4+ 25+ cells in patients also significantly decreased in comparison to that in healthy subjects. These results suggest that the deficiency of Tregs might thus play an important role in the immunopathophysiology of autoimmune neutropenia in children.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)642-647
Number of pages6
JournalBritish Journal of Haematology
Volume145
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Autoimmunity
  • Foxp3
  • Infant
  • Neutropenia
  • Regulatory T cells

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