Unraveling the identity of FoxP3+ regulatory T cells in Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis patients

Human CD4(+)FoxP3(+)T-cells are heterogeneous in function and include not only suppressive cells (Tregs), but also effector cells that transiently express FoxP3 upon activation. Previous studies in Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA-)patients have demonstrated an increase in FoxP3(+)T-cells with impaired suppressive capacity and an increase in Th17 cells. We hypothesized that the increase in FoxP3(+)T-cells results from an increase in non-suppressive effector-like cells. The frequency of circulating CD4(+)FoxP3(+)T-cell subsets were determined by flow cytometry in 46 GPA-patients in remission and 22 matched healthy controls (HCs). Expression levels of FoxP3 and CD45RO were used to distinguish between CD45RO(−) FoxP3(low) resting Tregs (rTreg), CD45RO(+)FoxP3(high) activated Tregs (aTreg) and CD45RO(+)FoxP3(low) proinflammatory non-suppressive T-cells (nonTreg). Intracellular expression of IFNγ, IL-17, and IL-21 was compared within these subsets. We found a significant increase in the frequency of nonTreg cells in GPA-patients as compared with HCs. Importantly, within the nonTreg subset, antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA-)positive patients demonstrated a significantly higher percentage of IL-17+ and IL-21+ cells when compared with ANCA-negative patients and HCs. Moreover, expanded nonTregs from ANCA-positive patients induced excessive proliferation of responder cells in vitro and exhibited higher IL-21 production. Production of IL-17 and IL-21 in non-suppressive FoxP3(+)T-cells may point toward a pathogenic role in ANCA formation.