Study on the Regulatory T Cell and the Expression of Foxp3 Gene in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis

Objective To investigate the quantity of peripheral blood CD4~+CD25~+ regulatory T cell,related cytokines and the expression of Foxp3 gene in ulcerative colitis(UC)patients,and to analyze the role of them in the pathogenesis of UC.Methods Anti-coagulated venous blood by heparin was collected from UC patients and healthy people.T cells were collected by Human CD3~+ T cell enrichment column.The quantity of peripheral blood CD4~+CD25~+ regulatory T cell was detected by immunofluorescence staining and bicolor flow cytometry by CD25/CD4 gating.The levels of related cytokines IL-10、TGF-β_1 were assayed by ELISA,the expressions of Foxp3 mRNA on T cell were analyzed by RT-PCR.Results Compared with healthy people,in UC patients,the expression of CD4~+CD25~+T cell and the level of Foxp3 mRNA both decrease significantly(P0.05).The levels of related cytokines IL-10、TGF-β_1 were lower than those of control group.Conclusion There is peripheral blood celluar immunological function disorder in UC patients,and the abnormal expression of CD4~+CD25~+T cell,the related cytokines and Foxp3 mRNA on T cell may involve in UC immunopathogenesis.