Does regulatory t- cells frequency affect the activity of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis?

Abstract EN

Objective : to investigate the frequency of CD4+CD25high regulatory T-cells (T regs) in the peripheral blood of children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and detect the relation to disease activity and duration.

Methodology : The frequency of CD4+CD25high T regs among all CD4+ T cells was determined using flow cytometry in 30 children with JRA, as well as 30 healthy age matched controls.

Patients were studied during disease activity and followed up for 1-1.5 year.

Reassessment of CD4+CD25high T regs frequency was done for those who attained remission.

Results : The frequency of CD4+CD25high T regs was significantly higher in the peripheral blood of patients, both during activity and remission than controls.

No significant difference was detected in the cells frequency during disease activity, being compared to remission.

No significant relations were detected between the frequency of CD4+CD25high T cells and disease duration, ESR, CRP, joint activity score or RF of patients.

Conclusions : The higher frequency of CD4+CD25high T regs population in the peripheral blood of patients with JRA than their counter part in the control subjects may imply defective function, which might play a central role in the pathogenesis of these diseases.

It is recommended to study the function of these cells in JRA patients in order to clearly figure out their role in the immunological deficit of this disease.