Title:T-Regulatory Cell Subsets in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Relation to Control of the Disease
Volume: 17
Issue: 3
Author(s): Mabrouk M. Ghonaim, Rawhia H. El-Edel, Samar M. Kamal Eldein, Wafaa Moustafa M. Abo El Fotoh*Samar S. Salman
Affiliation:
- Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University Hospital, Shebin EL-Kom,Egypt
Keywords:
Autoimmune disease, immunotherapy, tolerance, T-regulatory cells, type 1 diabetes mellitus, effector T cells.
Abstract: Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus is described as a chronic metabolic disorder characterized
by aggressive immune β-cell destruction. There are a number of varied immune mechanisms
for sustaining self-tolerance in opposition to the autoimmune disorders. A recessive tolerance
is accomplished by thymic gland via a negative assortment of different clones, while a dominant
tolerance is accomplished by the regulatory T cells (Treg) in the periphery. Treg (CD4+
CD25+FOXP3+) are subsets of T cells which have an essential role in maintaining tolerance.
Objective: To evaluate peripheral Treg (CD4+; CD25+; FOXP3+) in children cohort with T1DM.
Methods: This study included 64 children diagnosed with T1DM and 35 age- and sex-matched
healthy children as controls. All children were clinically evaluated and subjected to assessment of
complete blood count (CBC), glycated hemoglobin, surface and cytoplasmic detection of Treg by
flow cytometry.
Results: This study showed that the frequency of Treg (CD4+; CD25+; FOXP3+) was significantly
lower in diabetic children than with normal controls (P<0.001). There was a significant (P <0.001)
reduction in the Treg (CD4+; CD25+; FOXP3+) in T1DM children with uncontrolled (Hemoglobin
A1c>7%) as compared to those with controlled (Hemoglobin A1c<7%) disease.
Conclusion: Diminished Treg in T1DM proved that auto-reactivation of T-cell as a result of the
breakdown of immune tolerance takes part in the elaboration of autoimmune disorders as T1DM.
Treg may be used in immunotherapy, thus preventing T1DM development due to its pivotal role in
immune tolerance.
