Assay of Peripheral Regulatory Vδ1 T Cells in Ankylosing Spondylitis and its Significance

Med Sci Monit. 2016 Sep 6:22:3163-8. doi: 10.12659/msm.897126.

Abstract

BACKGROUND Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) involves inflammation at the sacroiliac joint and spine attachment site. This study aimed to observe the ratio and function of peripheral regulatory Vδ1 T cells in AS patients to investigate their roles in AS pathogenesis. MATERIAL AND METHODS Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were separated by density-gradient centrifugation from AS patients and healthy controls. Flow cytometry was used to determine the ratio between Vδ1 and CD4 T cells of PBMC in AS patients and controls. Flow cytometry sorting (FCS) was used to obtain Vδ1 and naïve CD4 T cells with purity higher than 90%. CFSE staining method was used to detect the effect of Vδ1 T cells on proliferation of naïve CD4 T cells. The effect of Vδ1 T cells on secretion of IFN-γ from naïve CD4 T cells and the ability to secrete IL-10 from Vδ1 T cells were determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS AS patients had significantly lower Vδ1 T cell ratio in PBMC compared to controls (p<0.05), but their CD4 T cell ratio was significantly elevated (p<0.05). Functional assay showed suppression of naïve CD4 T cell proliferation and IFN-γ secretion by peripheral Vδ1 T cells in AS patients (p<0.01). AS patients also had lower IL-10 secreting level from peripheral derived Vδ1 T cells (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS The immune suppression of peripheral Vδ1 T cell in AS patient increases the ratio of peripheral CD4 T cells and IFN-γ level, leading to AS pathogenesis. This immune suppression is mainly due to suppressed IL-10 secretion.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology
  • Interleukin-10 / immunology
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
  • Male
  • Spondylitis, Ankylosing / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Interleukin-10
  • Interferon-gamma