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Role of Peripheral Regulatory T Lymphocytes in Patients with Thyroid Associated Ophthalmopathy During Systemic Glucocorticoid Treatment: A Prospective Observational Study

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Abstract

Objective

Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is an autoimmune disorder involving the orbital tissue. This study aimed to understand the role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in TAO during 12-week systemic glucocorticoid (GC) treatment.

Methods

Thirty-two moderate-severe TAO patients with a clinical activity score (CAS) ≥3/7 or with prolonged T2 relaxation time (T2RT) on at least one side of extraocular muscle (EOM) were enrolled. The percentage of the peripheral CD4+CD25(high)CD127(−/low) Tregs was analyzed using flow cytometry before and after the GC treatment. The activity and severity of TAO, T2RT, and the clinical outcomes after the GC treatment were assessed. Their correlation with the peripheral Tregs was investigated.

Results

There was no significant association between the baseline Treg fraction and the activity and severity of TAO or the treatment response. A significant reduction of Tregs was observed after the GC therapy merely in patients without any clinical improvement.

Conclusion

Treg reduction after systemic GC therapy is indicative of a poor therapeutic response. Accordingly, dynamic alterations of Tregs could help to evaluate the effectiveness of the GC treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China

    Qin-qin Xu, Xiao-ling Zhang, Gang Yuan & Shi-ying Shao

  2. Branch of the National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Wuhan, 430030, China

    Qin-qin Xu, Xiao-ling Zhang, Gang Yuan & Shi-ying Shao

  3. Depatment of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China

    Ban Luo & Tao Li

Authors
  1. Qin-qin Xu
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  2. Xiao-ling Zhang
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  3. Ban Luo
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  4. Tao Li
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  5. Gang Yuan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shi-ying Shao.

Ethics declarations

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Author Shi-ying SHAO is a member of the Youth Editorial Board for Current Medical Science. The paper was handled by other editors and has undergone rigorous peer review process. Author Shi-ying SHAO was not involved in the journal’s review of, or decision related to, this manuscript.

Additional information

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81100581) and the Beijing Bethune Charitable Foundation (No. 2021).

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Xu, Qq., Zhang, Xl., Luo, B. et al. Role of Peripheral Regulatory T Lymphocytes in Patients with Thyroid Associated Ophthalmopathy During Systemic Glucocorticoid Treatment: A Prospective Observational Study. CURR MED SCI 43, 130–138 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11596-022-2671-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11596-022-2671-8

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