The Association between Regulatory T Cell Subpopulations and Severe Pneumonia Post Renal Transplantation

Abstract

Severe pneumonia accounts for the majority of morbidity and mortality in renal allograft recipients due to immunosuppressant maintenance. Regulatory T cells (Tregs), which are involved in tackling infections under immunosuppressive conditions, are rarely uncovered. We aimed to investigate the relationship between various Treg subpopulations and severe pneumonia after kidney transplantation (KTx). KTx recipients with pneumonia were divided into severe pneumonia and mild pneumonia groups. The frequencies and absolute numbers (Ab No.) of total Tregs (CD4+CD25+FoxP3+), six subsets of Tregs (Helios+/-, CD39+/-, and CD45RA+/-), and T cells, B cells, and NK cells were assessed from peripheral blood via flow cytometry using the t or Mann-Whitney test and receiver operating curve analysis. We also determined the median fluorescence intensity (MFI) of human leukocyte antigen- (HLA-) DR on monocytes and CD64 on neutrophils. Logistic regression was used to identify the risk factors of disease progression, and Pearson’s correlation analysis was performed to identify relationships between the measured immune indices and patients’ clinical information. Our research indicated that Treg subpopulations were strongly associated with severe pneumonia progression post KTx. Based on the monitoring of Treg subpopulations, better-individualized prevention and therapy might be achieved for patients with severe pneumonia post KTx.

LPCAT1 enhances the invasion and migration in gastric cancer: Based on computational biology methods and in vitro experiments

“…Interestingly, the immune microenvironment analysis suggests that LPCAT1 can increase neutrophils, regulatory T cells, and macrophages and decrease CD8 + T cells, myeloid dendritic cells, and mast cells. Neutrophils, regulatory T cells and CD8 + T cells, which are typical immunosuppressive cells in various cancers 41 . In conclusion, LPCAT1 plays a negative role in GC by boosting the neutrophil degranulation pathway and disturbing the immune microenvironment.…”

“…Neutrophils, regulatory T cells and CD8 + T cells, which are typical immunosuppressive cells in various cancers. 41 In conclusion, LPCAT1 plays a negative role in GC by boosting the neutrophil degranulation pathway and disturbing the immune microenvironment.…”

The distribution of myeloid-derived suppressor cells subsets and up-regulation of programmed death-1/PD-L1 axis in peripheral blood of adult CAP patients

“…Oddly enough, we did not detect a significant difference in the proportion of the Tregs between CAP patients and healthy individuals. The lack of difference in Tregs frequency may be explained as follows: first, the proportion of the Tregs may be associated with the stage and the severity of pneumonia [ 22 – 24 ]; second, PD-1 and CTLA-4 are important negative immune regulators expressed on regulatory T cells and play an important role in maintaining the function of Treg cells [ 25 ]. The increased expression of PD-1 and CTLA-4 on Treg in our study was expected considering the immunomodulatory effects of MDSC on Treg.…”

Regulatory T cells in lung disease and transplantation

“…Treg cells can critically function as immunosuppressors in infectious diseases by producing abundant anti-inflammatory cytokines like TGF-β, IL-10 and IL-35 [ 240 ]. Additionally, Foxp3 + CD39 + Treg cells can help eliminate inflammasome-mediated pro-inflammatory responses by hydrolyzing ATP [ 241 ]. Treg cells also contribute to the reduction of lung inflammation and promote lung repair by interacting with macrophages and alveolar epithelial cells [ 242 ].…”