Expansion of intestinal CD4+CD25(high) Treg cells in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a putative role for interleukin-10 in preventing intestinal Th17 response

Objective: subclinical gut inflammation has been demonstrated in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients. Aim of this study was to determine the frequency of regulatory CD4+CD25high T cells (Treg), and to evaluate Treg-related cytokines (IL-2, TGF-β, IL-10), and transcription factors (FOXP3 and STAT5) in the ileum of AS patients. Methods: Quantitative gene expression analysis, by rt-PCR, of Treg-related cytokines (IL-2, TGF-β, IL-10) and transcription factor (STAT-5 and FOXP3) was performed on ileal biopsies of 18 AS and 15 active Crohn’s disease (CD) patients, and 15 healthy subjects (HS). Tissue and circulating Treg cells were also analyzed by flow cytometry. Results: A significant up-regula…