Association of increased Treg and Th17 with pathogenesis of moyamoya disease

Sci Rep. 2017 Jun 8;7(1):3071. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-03278-8.

Abstract

Immuno-inflammation has been shown to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of moyamoya disease (MMD). However, how did circulating Treg/Th17 cells involve in MMD patients remains unclear. 26 MMD, 21 atherothrombotic stroke, and 32 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. MMD patients have a significantly higher percentage of circulating Treg and Th17 cells as well as their dominantly secreting cytokines than other groups (P < 0.0001), whereas no difference was found in the ratio of Treg/Th17 between patients in MMD and atherothrombotic stroke group or control subjects (P = 0.244). However, the increased Treg in MMD patients which were enriched with FrIII Treg cells had deficient suppressive functions (P = 0.0017) compared to healthy volunteers. There was a positive correlation between Treg or TGF-β and MMD Suzuki's stage. And the level of circulating Treg was as an independent factor associated with MMD stage. Besides, TGF-β was also correlated with the increased expression of VEGF in MMD patients. Our findings indicated an important involvement of circulating Treg in the pathogenic development of MMD and TGF-β in Treg induced VEGF.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunomodulation
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Moyamoya Disease / diagnosis
  • Moyamoya Disease / etiology*
  • Moyamoya Disease / metabolism*
  • Phenotype
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism*
  • Th17 Cells / immunology*
  • Th17 Cells / metabolism*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / blood
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Cytokines
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A