Increased levels of pathogenic Th17 cells and diminished function of CD69 Treg lymphocytes in patients with overweight Article uri icon

abstract

  • A low-grade inflammatory phenomenon is a feature of overweight and metabolic syndrome. The involvement of a pro-inflammatory Th17 lymphocyte subset and the CD69 T regulatory (Treg) cell subtype in patients with metabolic dysfunction associated with or without overweight has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to perform a quantitative and functional analysis of pathogenic Th17 lymphocytes and CD69 Treg cells in patients with metabolic dysfunction (insulin resistance and dyslipidemia). The number of pathogenic Th17 cells and the levels and function of CD69 Treg cells were analyzed in blood samples from individuals with metabolic dysfunction, associated with or without overweight. Pathogenic and non-pathogenic Th17 lymphocytes as well as Th22 cells were determined by eight-color flow cytometry analysis, whereas the levels and suppressive function of CD69 Treg cells were also analyzed by multiparametric flow cytometry. We detected increased levels of pro-inflammatory Th17 pathogenic cells and Th22 lymphocytes in overweight unhealthy individuals (P < 0.001, compared to normal weight healthy). Conversely, diminished numbers of CD69 Treg lymphocytes were observed in metabolically unhealthy individuals, with or without overweight. Likewise, the immunosuppressive function of CD69 Treg cells was also defective in these patients. The increased levels of pathogenic Th17 cells along with a diminished number and function of CD69 Treg lymphocytes may significantly contribute to the low-grade inflammatory phenomenon of metabolically unhealthy patients. © 2022 The Author(s). All rights reserved.
  • A low-grade inflammatory phenomenon is a feature of overweight and metabolic syndrome. The involvement of a pro-inflammatory Th17 lymphocyte subset and the CD69%2b T regulatory (Treg) cell subtype in patients with metabolic dysfunction associated with or without overweight has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to perform a quantitative and functional analysis of pathogenic Th17 lymphocytes and CD69%2b Treg cells in patients with metabolic dysfunction (insulin resistance and dyslipidemia). The number of pathogenic Th17 cells and the levels and function of CD69%2b Treg cells were analyzed in blood samples from individuals with metabolic dysfunction, associated with or without overweight. Pathogenic and non-pathogenic Th17 lymphocytes as well as Th22 cells were determined by eight-color flow cytometry analysis, whereas the levels and suppressive function of CD69%2b Treg cells were also analyzed by multiparametric flow cytometry. We detected increased levels of pro-inflammatory Th17 pathogenic cells and Th22 lymphocytes in overweight unhealthy individuals (P < 0.001, compared to normal weight healthy). Conversely, diminished numbers of CD69%2b Treg lymphocytes were observed in metabolically unhealthy individuals, with or without overweight. Likewise, the immunosuppressive function of CD69%2b Treg cells was also defective in these patients. The increased levels of pathogenic Th17 cells along with a diminished number and function of CD69%2b Treg lymphocytes may significantly contribute to the low-grade inflammatory phenomenon of metabolically unhealthy patients. © 2022 The Author(s). All rights reserved.

publication date

  • 2022-01-01