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Regulatory T cells from active non-segmental vitiligo exhibit lower suppressive ability on CD8+CLA+ T cells

  • Investigative Report
  • Published:
European Journal of Dermatology

Abstract

Background

Recent studies have shown that vitiligo is a T-cell mediated autoimmune disease. Skin-homing cytotoxic T lymphocytes expressing cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen (CLA) have been suggested to be responsible for the destruction of melanocytes in vitiligo. An aberration in the suppressive function of regulatory T cells (Tregs) has been reported in vitiligo patients. However, whether the weakened suppressive ability of the Tregs contributes to hyper-activated skin homing CD8+CLA+ T cells remains to be determined.

Objectives

To investigate the inhibition of circulating Tregs on the proliferation of autologous CD8+CLA+ T cells in non-segmental vitiligo patients.

Methods

CD8+CLA+ T cells and Tregs were obtained from the peripheral blood of 13 non-segmental vitiligo patients and 7 controls. The proliferative responses of CD8+CLA+ T cells were assessed in the absence or presence of autologous Tregs, and the levels of Transforming Growth Factor β1(TGF-β1) and IL-10 in culture supernatants were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

The proliferative responses of circulating CD8+CLA+ T cells in the presence of Tregs were significantly higher in the active vitiligo than in the stable vitiligo and control groups. Tregs from active vitiligo patients exhibited a lower inhibitory effect on proliferation of CD8+CLA+ T cells. The levels of TGF-β1 produced by Tregs were significantly lower in active vitiligo than other groups and anti-TGF-β1 antibodies could abrogate the suppressive function of Tregs.

Conclusions

The functional activity of Tregs is compromised in active vitiligo patients. TGF-β1 plays an important role in the autoimmune mechanism of the disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, No.467 Zhongshan Road, 116027, Dalian, Liaoning Province, P. R. China

    Mao Lin, Bao-Xiang Zhang, Nan Shen, Xue-Jiao Dong, Ci Zhang & Cai-Xia Tu

  2. College of Integrative Medicine, 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, No.467 Zhongshan Road, 116027, Dalian, Liaoning Province, P. R. China

    Mao Lin & Cai-Xia Tu

  3. Department of Clinical Laboratory, 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, No.467 Zhongshan Road, 116027, Dalian, Liaoning Province, P. R. China

    Jie Zhu & Yu-Zhong Li

  4. Department of Dermatology, Northern California Institute for Research and Education, San Francisco, CA, 94121, USA

    Mao-Qiang Man

Authors
  1. Mao Lin
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  2. Bao-Xiang Zhang
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  3. Nan Shen
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  4. Xue-Jiao Dong
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  5. Ci Zhang
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  7. Jie Zhu
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  8. Yu-Zhong Li
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  9. Mao-Qiang Man
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  10. Cai-Xia Tu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cai-Xia Tu.

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These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Lin, M., Zhang, BX., Shen, N. et al. Regulatory T cells from active non-segmental vitiligo exhibit lower suppressive ability on CD8+CLA+ T cells. Eur J Dermatol 24, 676–682 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2014.2436

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2014.2436

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