Lower proportions of CD4+CD25(high) and CD4+FoxP3, but not CD4+CD25+CD127(low) FoxP3+ T cell levels in children with autoimmune thyroid diseases

Autoimmunity. 2013 May;46(3):222-30. doi: 10.3109/08916934.2012.751981. Epub 2013 Jan 22.

Abstract

The essence of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) is loss of tolerance of own tissues caused by malfunction of T lymphocytes, which affects the production of antibodies reacting with particular cell structures and tissues. Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) take part in the regulation of immune response and play a leading role in developing immune tolerance through active suppression. The aim of the study was to estimate the expression of CD4+CD25(high), CD4+CD25+CD127(low)FoxP3(+) and CD4+ FoxP3 T cells in patients with Graves' disease (GD) (n = 24, median age 15.5 years), in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) (n = 30, median age 15 years) in comparison with sex- and age-matched healthy control subjects (n = 30, median age 15 years). Polychromatic flow cytometry using a FACSCalibur (BD Biosciences) cytometer was applied to delineate T regulatory cell populations. In untreated patients with Graves' disease and HT we observed a significant decrease in CD4+FoxP3 (p < 0.001, p < 0.01) and CD4+CD25(high) (p < 0.016, p < 0.048) T lymphocytes as compared to the healthy control subjects. After 6-12 months of L-thyroxine therapy in HT cases these phenotypes of Tregs were normalized, yet no such changes were observed during GD therapy. The analysis of CD4+CD25+CD127(low)FoxP3+ T cells in the peripheral blood revealed comparable percentages of these cells in patients with thyroid autoimmune diseases to the controls. We conclude that the reduction number of Tregs with CD4+CD25(high) and CD4+FoxP3 phenotype suggests their role in initiation and development of autoimmune process in thyroid disorders.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • CD4 Antigens / metabolism
  • Child
  • Female
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Graves Disease / immunology*
  • Hashimoto Disease / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / metabolism
  • Interleukin-7 Receptor alpha Subunit / metabolism
  • Male
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • Thyroid Gland / immunology
  • Thyroxine / therapeutic use*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • CD4 Antigens
  • FOXP3 protein, human
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit
  • Interleukin-7 Receptor alpha Subunit
  • Thyroxine