Increased frequency of activated regulatory T cells in patients with lupus nephritis

• Published in: Human immunology 2022-07, Vol.83 (7), p.574-579
• Main Authors: Pourreza, Elham, Shahbazi, Mehdi, Mirzakhani, Mohammad, Yousefghahari, Behnaz, Akbari, Roghayeh, Oliaei, Farshid, Mohammadnia-Afrouzi, Mousa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: effector T cell; Lupus nephritis; regulatory T cell; Systemic lupus erythematosus; Tregs
• ISSN: 0198-8859; 1879-1166
• DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2022.05.001

Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the common manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), affecting the quality of life of patients. Abnormality in the adaptive immune response, such as T cell response, plays the main role in the pathogenesis of SLE and LN. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the role of different subpopulations of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and effector T cells (Teff) in LN patients and compare them with SLE patients. A total of 48 participants were enrolled in this study and divided into 3 groups: (i) patients with SLE; (ii) patients with LN; and (iii) healthy controls (HCs). The frequencies of CD4+ CD25++ CD45RA− Foxp3hi activated Tregs (aTregs), CD4+ CD25+ CD45RA+ Foxp3lo resting Tregs (rTregs), CD4+ CD25+ CD45RA− Foxp3lo non-Tregs, CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3− Teff, and Tregs were analyzed in all subjects using a flow cytometer. LN patients had a significantly increased frequency of aTregs and Tregs compared with SLE patients (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.50; 95% CI [-0.26, 1.25]; p > 0.05 and SMD = 0.60; 95% CI [-0.16, 1.36]; p > 0.05, respectively). Patients with LN had a significantly increased frequency of Teff compared with SLE patients (SMD = 0.49; 95% CI [-0.26, 1.24]; p > 0.05). However, an increased ratio of Tregs/Teff was observed in LN patients compared with SLE patients (SMD = -0.25; 95% CI [-0.97, 0.48]; p > 0.05). Patients with LN showed immunoregulatory properties, in which both aTregs and Tregs had increased frequencies.