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Effect of partial depletion of CD25+ T cells on neurological deficit and tissue damage in acute cerebral ischemia rat models
Authors: Ana L Rodríguez-Perea1,2 , Johanna Gutierrez-Vargas3 , Mauricio Rojas4,5, Gloria P CardonaGómez 6 , Paula A Velilla1
Number of views: 323
Objective: To evaluate the role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) at late stages of stroke. Methods:
Anti-CD25 antibody (or PBS as a control) was injected to reduce the pool of Tregs in Wistar
rats; then, ischemia was induced transiently by middle cerebral artery occlusion during 60 min
and reperfusion was allowed for 7 d. Then, Treg frequency was analyzed in peripheral blood,
spleen and lymph nodes. Neurological score (0-6) and infarct volume were also determined.
Results: Nine days after injection, the CD4+
CD25+
T cells were reduced by 70.4%, 44.8% and
57.9% in peripheral blood, spleen and lymph nodes, respectively compared to PBS-treated rats.
In contrast, the reduction of CD4+
FOXP3+
T cells was lower in the same compartments (38.6%,
12.5%, and 29.5%, respectively). The strongest reduction of CD25+
CD4+
T cells was observed
in those FOXP3-negative cells in blood, spleen and lymph nodes (77.8%, 52.8%, and 60.7%,
respectively), most likely corresponding to activated T cells. Anti-CD25-treated transient
middle cerebral artery occlusion rats had a lower neurological deficit and did not develop
tissue damage compared with PBS-treated animals. Conclusions: These findings suggest that
treatment with anti-CD25 in our model preferentially reduce the T cell population with an
activated phenotype, rather than the Treg population, leading to neuroprotection by suppressing
the pathogenic response of effector T cells.