Functional alterations in colonic CD4+T and regulatory T cells drive immune imbalance in ulcerative colitis.

Journal: Immunology Letters
Published:
Abstract

Immune imbalance plays a key role in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC). The changes in CD4+ T cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs) in colonic T cells have an important relationship with UC. It is of great significance to elucidate the functional characteristics of CD4+ cells andTregs in UC patients. This study aimed to inquire into changes in functional markers of CD4+T cells and Tregs, including Helios, Bcl6, CTLA-4, CD226, TIGIT, PD-1 and ICOS. DSS-induced colitis was established in Balb/c mice and lymphocytes from spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs), peripheral blood, and colon tissue were obtained. CD4+T cells and Tregs were analyzed by flow cytometry. We found that Helios+ and Bcl-6+ proportions were increased in colonic CD4+T cells of DSS-induced colitis mice. CD4+FoxP3+CXCR5-Tregs were significantly elevated in the colon of colitis mice, with CTLA-4+ percentages increased. Naïve subsets in colonic CD4+T and Tregs were significantly reduced, while effector T-cell subsets were increased in colitis mice. TIGIT+ and CD226+ percentages were significantly increased in both colonic CD4+T cells and Tregs of colitis mice. Both PD-1+ and ICOS+ percentages in colonic CD4+T cells and the ICOS+ percentage in colonic Tregs were significantly increased in colitis mice. In conclusion, functional molecules related to CD4+T cells and Tregs in colonic T cells are altered in UC, often adopting an activated phenotype. These changes may be associated with the pathogenesis of UC and could potentially serve as clinical therapeutic targets.

Authors
Yan Long, Changsheng Xia, Xiaoyi Zheng, Jinghong Feng, Wenyi Li, Yinting Ma, Yuanyuan Sun, Xingyue Zeng, Chen Liu