Förger F et al. - The amelioration of disease activity in the third trimester corresponded to the increased number of Treg that induced a pronounced anti-inflammatory cytokine milieu. Methods
Study to investigate whether numerical and functional changes of CD4+CD25high regulatory T cells (Treg) were associated with changes of disease activity observed during pregnancy and post partum in pts with RA
The frequency of CD4+CD25high T cells was determined by flow cytometry in 12 pts with RA and 14 healthy women during and after pregnancy
FACS was used to sort CD4+CD25high T cells
CD4+CD25– T cells were stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 monoclonal antibodies alone or in co-culture to investigate proliferation and cytokine secretion
Results
Frequencies of CD4+CD25high Treg were significantly higher in the third trimester compared to 8 wks post partum in pts and controls
Numbers of CD4+CD25high Treg inversely correlated with disease activity in the third trimester and post partum
In co-culture experiments higher amounts of IL10 and lowered levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ were found in supernatants of the third trimester vs postpartum samples
These findings were independent from health or disease in pregnancy, however postpartum TNF-α and IFN-γ levels were higher in pts with disease flares
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