Department of Dermatological Sciences, University of Florence, Via della Pergola 58/60, 50121 Florence, Italy.
Br J Dermatol. 2010 May;162(5):1056-63. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2010.09633.x. Epub 2010 Jan 22.
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) and morphoea are connective tissue diseases characterized by fibrosis of the skin. Although to date their pathogenesis has not been clearly defined, it is thought that autoimmunity may play a role in the development of the skin lesions observed in both these diseases. As regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a key role in the modulation of immune responses, it has recently been suggested that Treg impairment may lead to the development of autoimmune diseases.
To investigate the presence of Tregs and their immunomodulatory cytokines, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta and interleukin (IL)-10, in patients with SSc and morphoea.
PATIENTS/METHODS: Fifteen patients with SSc and 15 with morphoea were enrolled. Immunohistochemistry was applied to identify FoxP3+ (forkhead/winged helix transcription factor) Tregs, TGF-beta+ cells and IL-10+ cells in the skin, cytofluorometry to detect CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Tregs in the blood, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to analyse TGF-beta and IL-10 serum levels.
Fewer FoxP3+ Tregs and TGF-beta+ and IL-10+ cells were found in the skin of patients with scleroderma than in controls. Similarly, there were reduced TGF-beta and IL-10 serum levels and fewer circulating CD4+CD25brightFoxP3+ cells in patients with SSc or morphoea, than in controls.
The quantitative reduction of Tregs, together with that of TGF-beta and IL-10 serum levels, may be responsible for the loss of tolerance observed in both SSc and morphoea.
系统性硬化症（SSc）和硬斑病是两种以皮肤纤维化为特征的结缔组织疾病。尽管迄今为止其发病机制尚未明确，但人们认为自身免疫可能在这两种疾病中观察到的皮肤损伤的发展中起作用。由于调节性 T 细胞（Tregs）在调节免疫反应中起关键作用，因此最近有人提出 Treg 功能障碍可能导致自身免疫性疾病的发生。
研究调节性 T 细胞（Tregs）及其免疫调节细胞因子转化生长因子-β（TGF-β）和白细胞介素-10（IL-10）在系统性硬化症和硬斑病患者中的存在情况。
患者/方法：共纳入 15 例系统性硬化症患者和 15 例硬斑病患者。应用免疫组织化学方法鉴定皮肤中的 FoxP3+（叉头/翅膀状螺旋转录因子）Tregs、TGF-β+细胞和 IL-10+细胞，应用流式细胞术检测血液中的 CD4+CD25+FoxP3+Tregs，应用酶联免疫吸附试验分析 TGF-β和 IL-10 血清水平。
与对照组相比，硬斑病患者皮肤中的 FoxP3+Tregs、TGF-β+细胞和 IL-10+细胞较少。同样，系统性硬化症或硬斑病患者的 TGF-β和 IL-10 血清水平以及循环 CD4+CD25brightFoxP3+细胞减少。
Tregs 及其 TGF-β和 IL-10 血清水平的定量减少可能是导致系统性硬化症和硬斑病中观察到的耐受丧失的原因。
