Functional inhibition of regulatory CD4+CD25+T cells in peripheral blood of patients with pemphigus vulgaris.

BACKGROUND: Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a potentially life-threatening autoimmune bullous disease affecting the skin and mucous membranes. Its pathogenic mechanism is still not fully understood. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been reported to play a significant role in regulating immune homeostasis in autoimmune disorders, such as PV. AIM: To investigate the potential role of Tregs in the immunopathogenesis of PV. METHODS: We enrolled 15 patients with PV and 15 healthy controls (HCs). Peripheral blood samples were collected from all participants before treatment. This was followed by flow cytometric, real-time reverse transcription PCR, and in vitro inhibition-based functional assays to explore the immunopathogenesis of Tregs in PV. RESULTS: Our results showed no statistically significant differences in total CD4+CD25+ cells and CD4+CD25high cells. In addition, expression levels of FOXP3 mRNA and the corresponding FOXP3 protein remained unchanged in the patients with PV and the HCs. However, the in vitro suppressive activity of CD4+CD25+ T cells was impaired in patients with PV compared with HCs. CONCLUSIONS: Our observations suggest that inhibition of suppressive activity of Treg cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of PV.