Percentages of CD4+CD161+ and CD4−CD8−CD161+ T Cells in the Synovial Fluid Are Correlated with Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Objective. CD161 has been identified as a marker of human IL-17-producing T cells that are implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study aimed to investigate the potential link between the percentage of CD161+ T cells and disease activity in RA patients. Methods. Peripheral blood (PB) from 54 RA patients and 21 healthy controls was evaluated. Paired synovial fluid (SF) (n = 17) was analyzed. CD161 expression levels on CD4+, CD8+, and CD4−CD8− T cells were assessed by flow cytometry. Results. The percentage of CD4+CD161+ T cells in RA SF was higher than RA PB, and it was positively correlated with DAS28, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP). CD4−CD8−CD161+ T cell percentage was decreased in RA PB and was further reduced in RA SF, and its level in SF was inversely correlated with DAS28, ESR, and CRP. However, CD8+CD161+ T cell percentage was neither changed in RA PB and SF nor correlated with disease activity indices. Conclusion. An increased CD4+CD161+ T cell percentage and a decreased CD4−CD8−CD161+ T cell percentage are present in RA SF and are associated with disease activity, and the accumulation of CD4+CD161+ T cells in SF may contribute to the local inflammation of RA.

Double-negative T resident memory cells of the lung react to influenza virus infection via CD11chi dendritic cells

“…DNT cells decrease upon HIV disease progression 70 and are inversely correlated with disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis. 71 In contrast, DNT cells are increased during severe M. tuberculosis infection compared with non-severe M. tuberculosis infections 64 and during active Sjögren's syndrome, 72 in which the level of DNT cells correlates with the degree of tissue inflammation. 73 Although the fact that DNT cells contract quickly after viral clearance (8 d.p.i.)…”

Innate Lymphocyte Th1 and Th17 Responses in Elderly Hospitalised Patients with Infection and Sepsis

“…CD3 + CD161 + lymphocytes are a composite population of diverse IL-17-producing lymphocytes [ 31 , 38 ]. These CD3 + CD161 + lymphocytes are potent mediators of inflammation, and have been linked with chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and correlate with disease severity in rheumatoid arthritis [ 39 , 40 ]. However, in the present study the downregulation of RORγt among CD3 + CD161 + lymphocytes in patients with sepsis links to a decrease in Th17 responsiveness and the occurrence of sepsis.…”

Frequency of CD4+CD161+ T Cell and Interleukin-10 Expression in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

“…While the reason of depletion of CD4 + CD161 + T cells in active IBD remains unclear, several mechanisms might be involved, such as the expression of proapoptotic features activated by chronic inflammation [ 9 ] and the loss of surface markers by bacterial infection [ 27 ]. In fact, increased frequency of these cells was reported in the synovial fluid of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis [ 18 ] and in the tumor and malignant effusion of breast cancer [ 11 ], in which the local environment is germ-free. We believe further studies are needed to determine whether the populations of these cells are altered in the intestinal bacterial flora.…”

“…CD161 encoded by KLRB1 (human killer cell lectin-like receptor subfamily B, member 1) is a C-type lectin-like receptor that exhibits both activating and inhibitory function in natural killer (NK) cells [ 22 , 23 ] and is expressed on invariant natural killer T (NKT) cells and mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, which are involved in IBD [ 7 , 9 ]. Except for this, CD161 is detected in 20% of peripheral T cells [ 18 ], particularly in CD4 + T cells in the lamina propria in human intestine [ 20 ], where a more frequent population exists in the lamina propria than MAIT cells in the epithelium [ 9 ].…”