Evaluation of T regulatory cell apoptosis in children with newly recognized type 1 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND: Type 1 diabetes is a metabolic disease characterized by an autoimmune, T-cell dependent destruction of insulin producing pancreatic beta cells. T regulatory cells (Tregs) are critical regulators of immune tolerance. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate CD4(+)CD25(high)FoxP3 cell apoptosis in the peripheral blood of children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: 34 children (15 girls and 19 boys) with new onset of type 1 diabetes mellitus, of the mean age 6.9 ± 5.2 (range 0.9-17.5 yr) and 18 healthy controls (8 girls, 10 boys) of the mean age 7.3 ± 4.6 (1.9-17.5 yr) were included into the study. Flow cytometric analysis of Tregs was performed using the following markers: anti-CD4, anti-CD25 and transcription factor FoxP3. Apoptosis was measured using anti-active caspase-3 monoclonal antibody. The percentage of apoptotic cells was measured within CD4(+)CD25(high)FoxP3(+ )cells. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There was no statistically significant difference in the percentage of apoptotic CD4(+)CD25(high)FoxP3(+ )cells between children with diabetes and healthy subjects; the median value 0 (range 0-26.8) vs. 0 (range 0-2.6), respectively (P = 0.302). Further, clinical studies on a larger cohort of diabetic children are needed to evaluate T regulatory cell apoptosis, especially for future immune-based therapy.