Impairment of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T-cells in autoimmune liver disease

Background/Aims: CD4+ lymphocytes constitutively expressing the IL-2-receptor alpha-chain (CD25) regulate the activation of CD4 and CD8 autoreactive T-cells by suppressing their proliferation and effector function. The aim of this study is to: (1) measure the percentage of CD4+ CD25+ T-cells (T-regs) in patients with autoimmune liver disease at presentation and during remission, (2) correlate their frequency with disease activity, (3) determine their ability to expand and (4) to inhibit interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) production by CD4 + CD25- T-cells. Methods: 41 patients were studied. Percentage of T-regs was determined on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by triple-colour flow cytometry; their ability to expand by exposing PBMCs to a T-cell expander (CD3/CD28 Dynabeads); their immunoregulatory function by measuring their ability to suppress IFNgamma production by CD4+ CD25- T-cells. Results: T-regs were significantly less in patients than in controls, and at diagnosis than during remission. Their percentage was inversely correlated with titres of anti-liver kidney microsomal and soluble liver antigen auto-antibodies. T-regs ability to expand was significantly lower in patients than in controls, but that to suppress IFNgamma production by CD4 + CD25- T-cells was maintained. Conclusions: Decreased T-regs numbers and ability to expand may favour the emergence of liver-targeted autoimmunity, despite preserved suppressor function. Treatment should aim at increasing T-regs number. (C) 2004 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.