CD4 CD25high regulatory T cells are not impaired in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome

In animal models of autoinimunity, C134 CD25(high) T cells play a key role in the control of the autoimmune process. Few studies have investigated the role of these cells in human autoinumme diseases. We aimed to investigate C134 CD25(high) T cells in the peripheral blood of patients with primary Sjbgren's syndrome (pSS). The proportion of blood C134 CD25(high) T cells was determined by flow cytometry in 21 patients with pSS as determined by the American-European consensus group criteria and two groups of controls (18 patients with lumbar back pain of mechanical origin and 15 healthy blood donors). The suppressive function of C134 CD25 cells was assessed using co-culture assays. The Vbeta repertoire of C134 CD25 T cells was examined by flow cytometry. The proportion of C134 CD25 T cells depended on age in patients and controls. In an age-matched comparison, no significant difference was observed in the proportion of total C134 CD25(low) T cells between patients with pSS and controls (P = 0.36). In contrast, the pool of C134 CD25 high was significantly increased in patients with pSS (8.5% vs 4.1 % in controls, P = 0.04). There was a slight but not significant higher proportion of C134 CD25 high Cells in patients with a more active disease. C134 CD25 T cells in patients with pSS effectively suppressed the proliferation of CD4 CD25(-) autologous responder T cells. The Vbeta repertoire of regulatory T cells from patients with pSS was polyclonal and was not significantly restricted as compared with that in controls. Functional C134 CD25 high regulatory cells are increased in patients with established pSS, through a reactive feedback, despite ongoing autoimmunity. These results suggest that pSS does not occur as a result of reduced level of C134 CD25 high regulatory T cells, nor as a defect of inhibition of proliferation of responder cells. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.