The frequency of CD4+ and CD8+ circulating T stem cell memory in type 1 diabetes

Immun Inflamm Dis. 2022 Oct;10(10):e715. doi: 10.1002/iid3.715.

Abstract

Introduction: The frequencies and functions of T stem cell memory (TSCM) subsets vary in autoimmune diseases. We evaluated the frequencies of CD4+ and CD8+ TSCM subsets as well as their PD-1 expression levels in patients with T1D.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from new case (NC) (n = 15), and long-term (LT) (n = 15) groups and healthy controls (n = 15). Five subsets of T cells including TCM(CD4+ /CD8+ CCR7+ CD45RO+ CD95+ ), TCMhi (CD4+ /CD8+ CCR7+ CD45ROhi CD95+ ), TEM(CD4+ /CD8+ CCR7- CD45RO+ CD95+ ), TSCM(CD4+ /CD8+ CCR7+ CD45RO- CD95+ ), and T naive (CD4+ /CD8+ CCR7+ CD45RO- CD95- ) were detected by flow-cytometry.

Results: The frequency of CD4+ TSCM was higher in NC patients than LT patients and controls (p < .0001 and p = .0086, respectively). A higher percentage of the CD8+ T naive cells was shown in NC patients as compared with LT and healthy individuals (p = .0003 and p = .0002, respectively). An increased level of PD-1 expression was observed on the CD4+ TCM and TCMhi cells in LT patients as compared with healthy controls (p = .0037 and p = .0145, respectively). Also, the higher PD-1 expression was observed on the CD8+ TCM and TCMhi in NC and LT patients as compared with controls (p = .0068 and p < .0001; p = .0012 and p = .0012, respectively).

Conclusion: Considering TSCMs' capacities to generate all memory and effector T cells, our results may suggest a potential association between the increased frequencies of TSCMs and T1D progression.

Keywords: CD4 T cell; CD8 T cell; T memory stem cells; autoimmunity; type 1 diabetes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1*
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Memory*
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • Receptors, CCR7
  • Stem Cells

Substances

  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • Receptors, CCR7