Circulation Journal
Online ISSN : 1347-4820
Print ISSN : 1346-9843
ISSN-L : 1346-9843
Ischemic Heart Disease
Regulatory/Effector T-Cell Ratio Is Reduced in Coronary Artery Disease
Takuo EmotoNaoto SasakiTomoya YamashitaKazuyuki KasaharaKeiko YodoiYoshihiro SasakiTakuya MatsumotoTaiji MizoguchiKen-ichi Hirata
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2014 Volume 78 Issue 12 Pages 2935-2941

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Abstract

Background:The protective function of regulatory T cells (Treg) has been identified in experimental atherosclerosis, but the contribution of Tregto the pathogenesis of human coronary artery disease (CAD) remains poorly understood. We investigated Tregand regulatory T-cell/effector T-cell (Treg/Teff) ratio in peripheral blood samples from CAD patients using a new strategy for precise identification of Treg.Methods and Results:Peripheral blood samples were collected from 73 stable CAD patients (55 middle-aged CAD patients and 18 old CAD patients) and 64 controls (47 middle-aged controls and 17 young controls). CD3+CD4+FoxP3+T cells were divided into 3 fractions: CD45RA+FoxP3lowresting Treg(Fr1), CD45RAFoxP3highactivated Treg(Fr2), and CD45RAFoxP3lownon-Treg(Fr3). CAD patients had lower percentages of Fr1 and Fr2 and higher percentages of Fr3 and CD45RAFoxp3Teff(Fr4+5) within the CD3+CD4+T-cell population compared to age-matched controls. Treg/Teffratio (Fr1+2/Fr3+4+5) in CAD patients was also markedly lower than in controls (middle-aged control, 0.17±0.09 vs. middle-aged CAD, 0.10±0.05; P<0.001). The percentage of CD4+CD28nullT cells within the CD4+T-cell population was negatively correlated with Treg/Teffratio, excluding CD4+CD28nullT cells <0.3% (r=–0.27, P<0.05). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein was also negatively correlated with Treg/Teffratio (r=–0.22, P<0.05).Conclusions:CAD patients had reduced Tregand Treg/Teffratio compared to healthy controls. The present findings may be helpful when developing immunotherapy for the prevention of CAD. (Circ J 2014; 78: 2935–2941)

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© 2014 THE JAPANESE CIRCULATION SOCIETY
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