Pregnancy induces numerical and functional changes of CD4+CD25 high regulatory T cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Förger, F; Marcoli, N; Gadola, S; Möller, B; Villiger, P M; Østensen, M (2008). Pregnancy induces numerical and functional changes of CD4+CD25 high regulatory T cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Annals of the rheumatic diseases, 67(7), pp. 984-90. London: BMJ Publishing Group 10.1136/ard.2007.075283

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OBJECTIVE: In a prospective study we investigated whether numerical and functional changes of CD4+CD25(high) regulatory T cells (Treg) were associated with changes of disease activity observed during pregnancy and post partum in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: The frequency of CD4+CD25(high) T cells was determined by flow cytometry in 12 patients with RA and 14 healthy women during and after pregnancy. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) was used to sort CD4+CD25(high) T cells and CD4+CD25- T cells were stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 monoclonal antibodies alone or in co-culture to investigate proliferation and cytokine secretion. RESULTS: Frequencies of CD4+CD25(high) Treg were significantly higher in the third trimester compared to 8 weeks post partum in patients and controls. Numbers of CD4+CD25(high) Treg inversely correlated with disease activity in the third trimester and post partum. In co-culture experiments significantly higher amounts of IL10 and lowered levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)alpha and interferon (IFN)gamma were found in supernatants of the third trimester compared to postpartum samples. These findings were independent from health or disease in pregnancy, however postpartum TNFalpha and IFN gamma levels were higher in patients with disease flares. CONCLUSION: The amelioration of disease activity in the third trimester corresponded to the increased number of Treg that induced a pronounced anti-inflammatory cytokine milieu. The pregnancy related quantitative and qualitative changes of Treg suggest a beneficial effect of Treg on disease activity.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Dermatology, Urology, Rheumatology, Nephrology, Osteoporosis (DURN) > Clinic of Rheumatology and Immunology
UniBE Contributor:	Förger, Frauke, Marcoli, Natalie, Gadola, Stephan D., Möller, Burkhard, Villiger, Peter Matthias, Oestensen, Monika Elisabeth
ISSN:	0003-4967
ISBN:	17971458
Publisher:	BMJ Publishing Group
Language:	English
Submitter:	Factscience Import
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2013 15:03
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:19
Publisher DOI:	10.1136/ard.2007.075283
PubMed ID:	17971458
Web of Science ID:	000256694600014
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/27513 (FactScience: 108190)