Table 2

Regulatory T cells in human systemic lupus erythematosus

Regulatory T cell subset
Comment

CD4+CD25+ cells

     Decreased [42-45]

CD4+CD25high cells
Inverse correlation with lupus activity [44,47,49,50,52]
     Decreased [22,46-52]

     Similar to healthy donors [57,58,65]

     Increase with treatment and disease improvement

          Corticosteroids [53]

          Plasmapheresis [54]

          Rituximab [55,56]

CD4+Foxp3+ cells

     Decreased [46,48,50]
Inverse correlation with disease activity [46,48,50]
     Similar to healthy donors [57]

     Increased [47,61-63]
Positive correlation with disease activity [47,61-63]
Suppressive activity in vitro

     Decreased [48,50,57,62] (one-third of patients [60])
Decrease largely due to IFNγ released by patient antigen-presenting cells [62]
     Not decreased [49]
Decreased due to resistance of systemic lupus erythematosus responder or accessory cells [57]

Horwitz Arthritis Research & Therapy 2008 10:227   doi:10.1186/ar2511