REVIEW - Regulatory T cells and systemic autoimmune diseases: SLE, RA, primary Sjogren's syndrome

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Rev Med Interne. 2010 Feb;31(2):116-27. Epub 2009 Dec 3.

[Regulatory T cells and systemic autoimmune diseases: systemic lupus

erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, primary Sjögren's syndrome]

[Article in French]

Bernard F, Romano A, Granel B.

Service de médecine interne, hôpital Nord, Assistance

publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), université de la Méditerranée,

chemin des Bourrely, 13015 Marseille cedex 15, France.

Abstract

Regulatory/suppressor T cells (Tregs) maintain immunologic homeostasis

and prevent autoimmunity. They are the guardians of dominant

tolerance. Recent research reveals quantitative and/or functional

defect of Tregs in systemic autoimmune diseases. In this article, past

and recent studies of Tregs in human systemic lupus erythematosus

(SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and primary Sjögren's syndrome (pGSS)

are reviewed. Most studies report that Tregs are decreased in

peripheral blood of subjects with active SLE. A population of

CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ is specifically described in SLE. Tregs functions are

still discussed. Tregs counts in peripheral blood of RA patients vary

across studies. Enrichment of synovial fluid in Tregs contrasts with

inflammation. Tregs suppressive effects are altered in vivo in RA

secondary to proinflammatory cytokines environment and resistance of

effector T cells to Tregs. In pGSS, the conflicting place of Tregs in

the balance prevention of autoimmunity/antitumor immunity is

unspecified. Immunosuppressive treatments, like corticosteroids and

anti-TNF, modulate Tregs cells population. There is increasing

interest in the use of Tregs as a biological therapy to preserve and

restore tolerance to self-antigen. However, difficulties to

characterize these lymphocytes and controversies in the results of

studies refrain their use in current clinical practice.

PMID: 19962219

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19962219

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