OBJECTIVE

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.

CONCLUSIONS

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.