Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Analysis Identifies Hypomethylated Genes Regulated by FOXP3 in Human Regulatory T Cells To explore the methylation landscape of prototypic natural regulatory T cells (nTreg), researchers analyzed genome-wide methylation in human naïve nTreg and conventional naïve CD4+ T cells. They detected 2,315 differentially methylated CpGs between these two cell types, many of which clustered into 127 regions of differential methylation. [Blood] Abstract Metabolic Profiling of Human CD4+ Cells following Treatment with Methotrexate and Anti-TNF-α Infliximab In this study the global metabolic changes associated with methotrexate or infliximab treatment of isolated human CD4+ T cells were examined using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry or liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. [Cell Cycle] Abstract RhoA/ROCK-Dependent Pathway Is Required for TLR2-Mediated IL-23 Production in Human Synovial Macrophages: Suppression by Cilostazol Scientists investigated whether the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway is required to elevate toll like receptor 2 (TLR2)-mediated interleukin (IL)-23 production in synovial macrophages from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and then examined the suppressive effect of cilostazol on these pathways. [Biochem Pharmacol] Full Article Clinical Associations of Serum Interleukin-17 in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Researchers characterized clinical associations of serum interleukin-17 (IL-17) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). They quantified IL-17 in serum samples from 98 SLE patients studied cross-sectionally, and in 246 samples from 75 of these patients followed longitudinally over two years. [Arthritis Res Ther] Abstract | Full Article Rapamycin Has Suppressive and Stimulatory Effects on Human Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Functions Scientists studied the effects of mTOR-inhibition by rapamycin, a commonly used immunosuppressive and anti-cancer drug, on innate and adaptive immune functions of human plasmacytoid dendritic cells. [Clin Exp Immunol] Abstract Imbalance of Different Types of CD4+Foxp3+ T Cells in Patients with New Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Investigators examined the numbers of CD4+CD25–Foxp3+, CD4+CD25+Foxp3+, and CD4+CXCR5+Foxp3+ T cells in patients with new onset systemic lupus erythematosus. The numbers of CD4+CD25–Foxp3+, CD4+CD25+Foxp3+, and CD4+CXCR5+Foxp3+ T cells and the concentrations of serum IL-10 in 23 patients and 20 healthy controls were measured. [Clin Exp Immunol] Abstract Expression of Co-Stimulatory Molecule B7-H4 in Patients Suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis Data showed that the immunolocalization of B7-H4 could be found on the membrane and in the cytoplasm of synoviocytes and CD19+ B cells in rheumatoid synovium tissues, while B7-H4 was weakly or negatively expressed on CD3+ T cells, CD14+ monocytes and CD68+ macrophages. [Immunol Lett] Abstract Altered Th17 Cells and Th17/Regulatory T-Cell Ratios Indicate the Subsequent Conversion from Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease to Definitive Systemic Autoimmune Disorders Scientists assessed the distribution of peripheral Th17 and regulatory T-cells in patients with undifferentiated connective tissue disease, the forerunner of systemic autoimmune diseases (SAIDs) and followed these parameters during the development towards definitive SAIDs. [Hum Immunol] Abstract HBcAg-Specific IL-21 Producing-CD4+T Cells Are Associated with Relative Viral Control in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Researchers investigated the role of interleukin-21-producing CD4+T cell response in viral control of hepatitis B virus infection. HBcAg -specific interleukin-21-producing CD4+T cells in blood were detected in patients with hepatitis B virus infection. [Scand J Immunol] Abstract |