Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026
Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis: An Intraocular Inflammatory Mouse Model
Published on: January 12, 2022
Treg lymphocytes in autoimmune uveitis
Simona Ruggieri1, Maria Antonia Frassanito, Rosanna Dammacco
1Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of Internal Medicine and Clinical Oncology, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy.
Purpose:
To evaluate circulating CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T-cell populations in patients with autoimmune uveitis and to assess whether T-regulatory cell populations correlate with clinical features.
Methods:
Sixty-four patients with noninfectious uveitis were enrolled. Following isolation and purification of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, Tregs were analyzed by assessing FOXP3 expression on T cells with an APC anti-human FOXP3 staining kit. Samples were simultaneously stained with anti-CD25-PeCy7, anti-CD3-FITC, anti-CD4-PercP, and anti-CD152 (CTLA-4)-PE monoclonal antibodies.
Results:
A decrease in CD4(+)CD25(+)FOXP3(+) T cells was detected in patients with active uveitis compared with healthy controls (p < .05). In patients achieving clinical remission, the percentage of CD4(+)CD25(+)FOXP3(+) T cells increased up to values comparable to those of healthy controls, in step with an increased expression of CTLA4.
Conclusion:
Therapy of autoimmune uveitis results in the increase of T-regulatory lymphocyte population and restoration of their functional state. These changes are likely to contribute to the patients' clinical improvement or disease regression.
