Chronic Pancreatitis Is Associated With Disease-Specific Regulatory T-Cell Responses
Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review
Contributors
Abstract
Background & Aims: Chronic pancreatitis is characterized by alternating phases of acute inflammation and quiescent disease. Involvement of T-cell responses has been suggested, but pancreatitis-specific T cells have not been described. Methods: We characterized T-cell responses against pancreatitis, pancreatic carcinoma-associated antigens, and tetanus toxoid in the bone marrow, blood, and/or pancreatitis lesions of patients with pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and healthy individuals. T cells were functionally characterized by antigen-dependent secretion of interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (Il)-4, and IL-10, which indicate type 1, type 2, or regulatory T-cell responses, respectively. Regulatory T cells were characterized by multicolor flow cytometry. Isolated regulatory T cells were tested for their capacity to recognize pancreatitis-associated antigens and to suppress conventional T cells in an antigen-dependent manner. T cell-derived cytokines in tissue lesions were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Chronic pancreatitis patients showed similar to pancreatic cancer patients and healthy individuals type 1 T-cell responses against tetanus toxoid; however, they exhibited strong IL-10-based T-cell responses against pancreatitis-associated but not pancreatic carcinoma-associated antigens. T cells from pancreatic cancer patients responded to pancreatic cancer-associated but not pancreatitis-associated antigens with IFN-γ secretion. Pancreatitis-specific IL-10 responses were mediated by IL-10+IFN-γ-FoxP3+ regulatory T cells, which were expanded in the blood, bone marrow, and pancreatitis lesions and possessed the potential to suppress the proliferation of autologous conventional T cells in an antigen-specific manner. Pancreatitis lesions, in comparison with pancreatic carcinomas, contained increased concentrations of IL-10 and reduced levels of IFN-γ, suggesting pancreatitis-specific activity of regulatory T cells in situ. Conclusions: Chronic pancreatitis is associated with disease-specific regulatory T-cell responses.
Details
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 1178-1188 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Gastroenterology |
Volume | 138 |
Issue number | 3 |
Publication status | Published - Mar 2010 |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
Sustainable Development Goals
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Keywords
- Chronic Pancreatitis, Pancreatic Carcinoma, Regulatory T Cells