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The Ratio of Regulatory (FOXP3 +) to Total (CD3 +) T Cells Determined by Epigenetic Cell Counting and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: A Prospective Case-cohort Study in Non-diabetics

BACKGROUND: Experimental and clinical evidence indicate that inflammatory processes in atherogenesis and the development of cardiovascular complications are promoted by a loss of regulatory T cell (Treg)-mediated immunological tolerance to plaque antigens. Yet, the association between alterations of...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Barth, Sebastian Dietmar, Kaaks, Rudolf, Johnson, Theron, Katzke, Verena, Gellhaus, Katharina, Schulze, Janika Josephin, Olek, Sven, Kühn, Tilman
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Elsevier 2016
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5049920/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27499494
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2016.07.035
Descripción
Sumario:BACKGROUND: Experimental and clinical evidence indicate that inflammatory processes in atherogenesis and the development of cardiovascular complications are promoted by a loss of regulatory T cell (Treg)-mediated immunological tolerance to plaque antigens. Yet, the association between alterations of systemic Treg frequency and cardiovascular disease incidence remains uncertain. METHODS: A nested case-cohort study was conducted within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Heidelberg, comprising a random subcohort (n = 778) and primary cases of myocardial infarction (MI, n = 276) and ischemic stroke (n = 151). Pre-diagnostic FOXP3 + Treg and total CD3 + T-lymphocyte (tTL) frequencies in blood were measured by epigenetic-based, quantitative real-time PCR-assisted cell counting. RESULTS: Multivariate, Prentice-weighted Cox regression analyses revealed that lower Treg/tTL ratios were not associated with the risk of either MI (lowest vs. highest sex-specific quartile; hazard ratio: 0.72, 95% confidence interval: 0.46 to 1.13; P(trend) = 0.51) or stroke (HR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.51 to 1.60; P(trend) = 0.78). There were no correlations of Treg/tTL ratios with C-reactive protein, HbA1c, and various lipid parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Among middle-aged adults from the general population, imbalances in the relative frequency of Tregs within the total T cell compartment do not confer an increased risk of MI or stroke.