Increased CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T cells in peripheral blood of celiac disease patients: Correlation with dietary treatment

Regulatory CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T cells are involved in the regulation of immune response and inhibit protective antitumor immunity. Celiac disease (CID), a food gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is considered a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease and is generally associated with an overall increased risk of cancer in CD patients. We observed a higher percentage of circulating CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T cells and an increased Foxp3 expression in CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells from untreated than from treated CD patients. In co-culture, CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells from both treated and untreated CD patients significantly Suppressed the proliferation of autologous CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells similarly to values in healthy subjects. Our Study Suggests that Treg proportion and Foxp3 expression in circulating CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells Could justify the increased global risk of malignancy in CID population and support the efficacy of lifelong gluten-free diet in the reduction of the cancer risk. (C) 2009 American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.