CD39 expression on Treg and Th17 cells is associated with metabolic factors in patients with type 2 diabetes

• Published in: Human immunology 2015-09, Vol.76 (9), p.622-630
• Main Authors: Cortez-Espinosa, Nancy, Cortés-Garcia, Juan Diego, Martínez-Leija, Ernesto, Rodríguez-Rivera, Jose Guillermo, Barajas-López, Carlos, González-Amaro, Roberto, Portales-Pérez, Diana Patricia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Allergy and Immunology; Antigens, CD - genetics; Antigens, CD - metabolism; Apyrase - genetics; Apyrase - metabolism; Biomarkers; Case-Control Studies; CD39; CD39+ Treg cells; Cytokines - metabolism; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - diagnosis; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - drug therapy; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - genetics; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - immunology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - metabolism; Female; Forkhead Transcription Factors - metabolism; Gene Expression; Humans; Immunophenotyping; Lymphocyte Count; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Phenotype; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - metabolism; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - immunology; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - metabolism; Th17 cells; Th17 Cells - immunology; Th17 Cells - metabolism; Type 2 diabetes
• ISSN: 0198-8859; 1879-1166
• DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2015.09.007

Abstract Th17 cells are involved in the pathogenesis of multiple inflammatory diseases such as type two diabetes (T2D). CD39+ Treg cells have been implicated as responsible for suppressing Th17 cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the number and function of CD4+ CD25high CD39+ Treg and Th17 cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from T2D patients and healthy control subjects. The Th17 cells were detected in PBMC under culture with human anti-CD3/CD28 and PMA/ionomycin and the levels of IL-17 were assessed by ELISA and qPCR. The T2D patients with obesity showed significantly lower percentages of CD39+ Treg cells. A negative correlation between CD39+ Treg cells and weight, and body mass index was detected. In contrast, the low levels of CD4+ IL-17+ cells in overweight and obese T2D patients showed a positive correlation with glucose and HbA1c. Additionally, we found a subpopulation of Th17 cells that express CD39 and were correlated with glucose and HbA1c. Our findings suggest that the expression of CD39 on Treg cells and also in CD4+ IL-17+ cells from T2D patients is related to hyperglycemia as well as to overweight and obesity and therefore may participate as a modulator of the effector capacity of Th17 cells.