The Percentage of Foxp3+Helios+ T Regulatory Cells Positively Correlates with Disease Activity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Researchers assessed the use of Helios in combination with FoxP3 as a superior method for identifying cytokine non-producing human regulatory T cells (Tregs) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and to determine if FoxP3+Helios+ Tregs are maintained at normal levels in patients with clinically active disease. [Arthritis Rheum] Abstract Oligoclonal Expansions of Mucosal T Cells in Crohn’s Disease Predominate in NKG2D-Expressing CD4 T Cells Clonal expansions of T cells have been found in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) suggesting an antigen-specific stimulation of pathogenic T cells. Here researchers showed, using T-cell receptor repertoire analysis by real-time PCR, that oligoclonal expansions are found in both CD8+ and CD4+ T cells in the blood and intestinal mucosa of CD patients. [Mucosal Immunol] Abstract Low Frequency of GITR+ T Cells in Ex Vivo and In Vitro Expanded Treg Cells from Type 1 Diabetic Patients Results showed a higher susceptibility to apoptosis in patients’ versus controls’ Treg cells, suggesting that glucocorticoid-induced TNFR family related (GITR) is a Treg-cell marker that would be primarily involved in Treg-cell survival rather than in their suppressor function. [Int Immunol] Abstract Changes in the Number of CD8+ T Lymphocytes in the Peripheral Blood of Patients with Various Autoimmune Diseases after Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantations and Their Relations to the Survival Times The changes in the number of CD8+ T lymphocytes were studied before and then 30 days after the autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantations in 14 therapy refractory patients with autoimmune diseases. The years of survival and the clinical states were also evaluated. [Arch Immunol Ther Exp] Abstract PGE2 Contributes to In Vitro MSC-Mediated Inhibition of Non-Specific- and Antigen-Specific T Cells Proliferation in MS Patients Scientists investigated the contribution of PGE2 to mesenchymal/stromal stem cells (MSC)-mediated suppression in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients using in vitro model of mitogen- and myelin-stimulated T cells co-cultivation with autologous/allogeneic MSC. [Scand J Immunol] Abstract Increased Th22 Cells Are Independently Associated with Th17 Cells in Type 1 Diabetes Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is perceived as an autoimmune disease caused by T cell-mediated destruction of the insulin-producing pancreatic β cells. However, the number of inflammatory T cells in blood, as well as the relative importance of each cell type is unclear. Forty-two patients with T1D and 30 controls were enrolled. Circulating primary CD4+ or CD8+ T cells were quantified with five-color flow cytometry. [Endocrine] Abstract The Impact of Conventional DMARD and Biological Therapies on CD4+ Cell Subsets in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Follow-Up Study Scientists investigated the alteration of CD4+ T cell subset distribution after the initiation of disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) (with glucocorticosteroid and methotrexate) and anti-TNFα therapy. [Clin Rheumatol] Abstract |