Abnormal Characterization and Distribution of Circulating Regulatory T Cells in Patients with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury According to the Period of Evolution

Biology, 2023 · DOI: 10.3390/biology12040617 · Published: April 19, 2023

Simple Explanation

Immune dysfunction is a major feature of chronic spinal cord injuries (SCIs). It is associated with many of the complications observed in these patients, such as increased vulnerability to infections and other medical challenges. By using ﬂow cytometry, we characterized circulating Tregs from chronic SCI patients according to the time of initial injury (1–5 years; 5–15 years; and >15 years). Despite the fact that a deeper understanding of the immune dysfunction caused by chronic SCI is still required, the characterization of circulating leukocytes such as Tregs and other populations can open up the possibility of ﬁnding translational biomarkers or therapeutic approaches that may aid in the clinical management of chronic SCI.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

105 patients with chronic SCI and 40 healthy controls

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
There was a signiﬁcant increase in the amount of circulating CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ in SCI-LCP compared to HC and SCI-ECP.
2
A signiﬁcant increase in CD45RA−CCR7−in SCI-LCP when compared to SCI-ECP was observed for CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+.
3
There was a signiﬁcant decrease with respect to HC in the expression of CCR5 in patients in the SCI-LCP, SCI-ECP, and SCI-SP groups.

Research Summary

Patients in the SCI-ECP (5 to 15 years post-injury) and SCI-LCP (>15 years post-injury) groups seemed to present an increased proportion of CD4+ CD25+/low Foxp3+ Tregs in comparison to healthy subjects. A decreased number of these cells expressing CCR5 was observed in the SCI-LCP, SCI-ECP, and SCI-SP subjects (<5 years). An increased amount of CD4+ CD25+/hi/low Foxp3, with negative expression of CD45RA and CCR7, was observed in SCI-LCP patients when compared to those in the SCI-ECP group.

Practical Implications

Biomarker Identification

Characterization of circulating leukocytes like Tregs can help find translational biomarkers for chronic SCI.

Therapeutic Approaches

The study may open possibilities for therapeutic approaches to aid in the clinical management of chronic SCI.

Understanding Immune Dysfunction

The altered Treg cell populations observed in patients with chronic SCI may explain the immune dysfunction reported in this group of subjects.

Study Limitations

1
The study did not consider the different manifestations of immune dysfunction in the studied patients.
2
The study was not able to include different individual variables or the presence of certain comorbidities to cluster among SCI patients.
3
The sample was approximately 70% male, and a similar percentage exhibited SCIs above T6, which might not be suitable for extrapolation to the totality of the SCI population.

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