Ottavio Giampietro
Italy
Research Article
Regulatory T Cells with Effector Memory Phenotype and Glycaemic Control in Adult Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
Author(s): Elena Matteucci, Luca Della Bartola and Ottavio GiampietroElena Matteucci, Luca Della Bartola and Ottavio Giampietro
Background: There is controversy about absolute number, frequency, and status of homing markers of regulatory T (Treg) cells in patients with type 1 diabetes. We observed recently a considerable accumulation of terminally differentiated central memory subsets among CD4+ and CD8+ T cell expressing CD26 in patients with type 1 diabetes. The increased number of terminally differentiated central memory cells, which was positively associated with HbA1c levels, could suggest life-long stimulation by protracted antigen exposure or a homeostatic defect in the regulation/contraction of immune responses.
Methods: We have analysed the phenotype of peripheral blood Treg cells in adult patients with type 1 diabetes using an 8-color flow cytometry assay panel for the characterisation of CD4+CD25highCD127- Treg cells into naïve (N, CCR7+CD45RA+), central memory (CM, CCR7+CD45RA-), and e.. View More»
