Regulatory T cells in peripheral blood of patients with mixed connective tissue disease

Abstract

Our results suggest that the decrease in the number of CD4+CD25+high Treg cells in an important factor in the immunoregulatory disturbance in patients with MCTD. We suggest that the increase in the number of CD4+IL-10+ Treg cells is a compensatory mechanism aiming to restore the balance between type 1 and type 2 cytokines in MCTD.