Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder exhibit an altered phenotype of regulatory T cells

• Authors: Mladen Jergović, University of Zagreb; Krešo Bendelja, University of Zagreb; Anđelko Vidović, University Hospital Dubrava; Ana Savić, University of Zagreb; Valerija Vojvoda, University of Zagreb; Neda Aberle, General hospital “dr. Josip Benčević”; Sabina Rabatić, Institute of Immunology; Tanja Jovanovic, Emory University; Ante Sabioncello, Institute of Immunology
• Journal Title: Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology
• Volume: Volume 10, Number 1
• Publisher: BioMed Central | 2014-08-20, Pages 43-43
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1186/1710-1492-10-43
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Immunology; Health Sciences, Rehabilitation and Therapy; Health Sciences, Mental Health
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Allergy; Immunology; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Regulatory T cells; Autoimmunity; MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS; IMMUNE FUNCTION; TH17 CELLS; PTSD; EXPRESSION; FOXP3; SUPPRESSION; AUTOIMMUNITY; ARTHRITIS; RESPONSES

Abstract

Background: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a key role in immune homeostasis in vivo. Tregs have a critical role in preventing the development of autoimmune diseases and defects in Treg function are implicated in various autoimmune disorders. Individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have higher prevalence of autoimmune disorders than the general population. We hypothesized that war veterans with PTSD would exhibit a decreased number and/or altered phenotype of Tregs. Methods: We analyzed peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with PTSD (N = 21) (mean age = 45.9) and age-matched healthy controls (N = 23) (mean age = 45.7) to determine the proportion of Tregs and their phenotype according to the expression of CD127 and HLA-DR markers which describe the differentiation stages of Tregs. In addition, we analyzed the expression of membrane ectoenzyme CD39 on Tregs of the study groups, an important component of the suppressive machinery of Tregs. Results: We found no differences in the proportion of Tregs between PTSD patients and controls, but PTSD patients had a higher percentage of CD127-HLA-DR- Tregs and a lower percentage of CD127loHLA-DR+ Tregs compared to controls. There was no difference in expression of CD39 on Tregs of the study groups. Conclusions: Although the proportions of Tregs in PTSD patients were unchanged, we found that they exhibit a different phenotype of Tregs that might be less suppressive. Impaired differentiation and function of Tregs is likely involved in disruption of immune homeostasis in PTSD.