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Treg/Th17 functional disequilibrium in Chinese uremia on hemodialysis: a link between calcification and

Danyan Chen1, Xiaolong Huang, Mengxue Yang

  • 1Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, PR China. 13667623530@163.com

Renal Failure
|April 17, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Functional disequilibrium in regulatory T cells (Treg)/T-helper (Th17) cells is linked to calcification and cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes in uremic patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). This imbalance may synergistically contribute to the high incidence of CVD post-HD.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Nephrology
  • Cardiovascular Medicine

Background:

  • Uremic patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) exhibit a high incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  • The balance between regulatory T cells (Treg) and T-helper 17 (Th17) cells is crucial for immune homeostasis.
  • Functional disequilibrium of Treg/Th17 cells is implicated in various inflammatory and autoimmune conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between Treg/Th17 cell functional disequilibrium and calcification in uremic patients.
  • To explore the influence of Treg/Th17 cell imbalance on the outcome of CVD in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD).

Main Methods:

  • Compared Treg and Th17 cell frequencies, gene expressions (Foxp3, ROR-γt), and cytokine levels (IL-10, IL-17) in uremic patients with and without CVD, and healthy controls.
  • Utilized flow cytometry, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  • Investigated the effect of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) on Treg/Th17 cells.

Main Results:

  • rhBMP-2 upregulated Treg/Th17 functional disequilibrium in uremic patients, showing increased Treg and Th17 frequencies, gene expressions, and cytokine levels compared to controls.
  • Significant differences in Treg/Th17 disequilibrium were observed between uremic patients with CVD (MHD group1) and those without CVD (MHD group2).
  • Treg/Th17 functional disequilibrium correlated with calcification status and was consistent with the presence of CVD.

Conclusions:

  • Treg/Th17 cell functional disequilibrium is associated with calcification in uremic patients.
  • This immune cell imbalance may synergistically contribute to the high incidence of cardiovascular disease in patients undergoing hemodialysis.
Abstract

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