Impaired Circulating CD4+LAP+ Regulatory T Cells in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome and Its Mechanistic Study

Abstract

Objective

CD4+ latency-associated peptide (LAP)+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a newly discovered T cell subset in humans and the role of these cells in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has not been explored. We designed to investigate whether circulating frequency and function of CD4+LAP+ Tregs are defective in ACS.

Methods

One hundred eleven ACS patients (acute myocardial infarction and unstable angina) and 117 control patients were enrolled in the study. The control patients consisted of chronic stable angina (CSA) and chest pain syndrome (CPS). The frequencies of circulating CD4+LAP+ Tregs and the expression of the transmembrane protein glycoprotein-A repetitions predominant (GARP) on CD4+ T cells were determined by flow cytometry. The function of CD4+LAP+ Tregs was detected using thymidine uptake. Serum interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-β protein (TGF-β) levels were detected using ELISA and expression of GARP mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was measured by real time-polymerase chain reaction.

Results

We found ACS patients had a significantly lower frequency of circulating CD4+LAP+ Tregs, and the function of these cells was reduced compared to controls. The expression of GARP in CD4+ T cells and the serum levels of TGF-β in ACS patients were lower than those of control patients. The serum levels of IL-10 were similar between the two cohorts.

Conclusions

A novel regulatory T cell subset, defined as CD4+LAP+ T cells is defective in ACS patients.

About the Authors:

Zheng-Feng Zhu

Contributed equally to this work with: Zheng-Feng Zhu, Kai Meng, Yu-Cheng Zhong, Liang Qi

Affiliation: Laboratory of Cardiovascular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Biological Targeted Therapy of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

Kai Meng

Contributed equally to this work with: Zheng-Feng Zhu, Kai Meng, Yu-Cheng Zhong, Liang Qi

Affiliation: Laboratory of Cardiovascular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Biological Targeted Therapy of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

Yu-Cheng Zhong

Contributed equally to this work with: Zheng-Feng Zhu, Kai Meng, Yu-Cheng Zhong, Liang Qi

Affiliation: Laboratory of Cardiovascular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Biological Targeted Therapy of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

Liang Qi

Contributed equally to this work with: Zheng-Feng Zhu, Kai Meng, Yu-Cheng Zhong, Liang Qi

Affiliation: Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China

Xiao-Bo Mao

Affiliation: Laboratory of Cardiovascular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Biological Targeted Therapy of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

Kun-Wu Yu

Affiliation: Laboratory of Cardiovascular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Biological Targeted Therapy of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

Wei Zhang

Affiliation: Laboratory of Cardiovascular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Biological Targeted Therapy of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

Peng-Fei Zhu

Affiliation: Laboratory of Cardiovascular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Biological Targeted Therapy of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

Ze-Peng Ren

Affiliation: Laboratory of Cardiovascular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Biological Targeted Therapy of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

Bang-Wei Wu

Affiliation: Laboratory of Cardiovascular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Biological Targeted Therapy of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

Qin-Wei Ji

Affiliation: Department of Cardiology, the People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China

Xiang Wang

* E-mail: [email protected] (QTZ); [email protected] (XW)

Affiliation: Laboratory of Cardiovascular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Biological Targeted Therapy of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

Qiu-Tang Zeng

* E-mail: [email protected] (QTZ); [email protected] (XW)

Affiliation: Laboratory of Cardiovascular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Biological Targeted Therapy of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

Introduction

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease involving immunologic imbalance. Various immune cells, macrophagocyte, monocyte, lymphocyte especially T lymphocytes participate in the chronic inflammatory reaction and ultimately lead to the occurrence and development of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) [1]–[4]. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an important role in maintaining peripheral tolerance, preventing autoimmune diseases, and restraining chronic inflammatory diseases [5]–[8]. Previous studies have shown that naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ Tregs are down-regulated in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) [9]–[11].

The classical Treg phenotype is defined as CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ T cells [12]–[13]. Recently, Weiner laboratory identified a novel population of human Tregs in peripheral blood that were characterized by the expression of latency-associated peptide (LAP) [14]. LAP is a linker pro-peptide that is specific for the active form of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) [15]–[17]. TGF-β is secreted as a latent complex in which the N-terminal region is non-covalently associated with LAP, while the C-terminal homodimer corresponds to mature TGF­β. In order for latent TGF-β to become active, the mature TGF- β must be released from LAP [16]–[18]. The CD4+LAP+ T cells lack Foxp3 expression, but they function similarly to the classical CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ Tregs and produce a suppressive effect on immune response. In vitro, the suppressive activity of CD4+LAP+ T cells is dependent on TGF-β, interleukin-10 (IL-10), and cell-cell contact [14]. CD4+LAP+ T cells have been shown to suppress murine autoimmunity in experimental models of encephalomyelitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, colitis, and diabetes [24]–[30]. Glycoprotein A repetitions predominant (GARP), an 80-kDa type I transmembrane glycoprotein leucine rich repeat (LRR), is highly expressed in activated Tregs [19]–[21]. GARP binds directly to LAP and tethers latent TGF­β on the surface of activated Tregs, and it has been clarified that GARP is a receptor for latent TGF­β [22]–[23].

The role of this novel subset of Tregs has been studied in many diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, diabetes, and atherosclerosis [24]–[31]. The status of CD4+LAP+ Tregs in patients with ACS has not yet been defined, however. Here we compared the circulating frequency of CD4+LAP+ Tregs in ACS patients with the frequency in control patients (chronic stable angina, CSA and chest pain syndrome, CPS). Levels of CD4+LAP+ Tregs were down regulated and their function was reduced in ACS patients. The LAP receptor GARP expression on CD4+ T cells from patients with ACS was also reduced.

Materials and Methods

Patients

Two hundred twenty-eight patients from Wuhan Union Hospital were classified into three groups: (1) acute coronary syndrome (ACS) group(including acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and unstable angina (UA), 111 patients in total; 64 men and 47 women; mean age, 59±7 years; inclusion criteria: acute myocardial infarction confirmed by significant rise of creatine kinase-MB and troponin I levels and/or not ST segment elevation, and unstable angina confirmed by chest pain at rest with definite ischemic proof, including ST-segment changes and/or T-wave inversion and angiographic evidence of coronary artery stenosis (>70%)); (2) chronic stable angina (CSA) group (29 men and 21 women, mean age 58±9, inclusion criteria: effort angina (lasting >3 months and without a previous history of unstable angina or myocardial infarction and angiographic evidence of coronary artery stenosis (>70%)); and (3) the chest pain syndrome (CPS) group (35 men and 32 women, mean age 57±6, inclusion criteria: chest pain not accompanied by electrocardiographic changes, coronary artery stenosis (Coronary angiography or coronary CTA), or coronary spasm [32]). The exclusion criteria included the following: (1) patients treated with anti-inflammatory drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids; (2) those who have diseases including connective tissue disease, thromboembolism, disseminated intravascular coagulation, advanced liver disease, renal failure, malignant disease, or other inflammatory disease (such as septicemia or pneumonia); (3) those who have other heart disease such as rheumatic heart disease, valvular heart disease or congenital heart disease, or atrial fibrillation or those using a pacemaker.

Ethics statement

The investigation conforms to the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki. The trial was approved by the ethics committee of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Patients and controls provided written informed consent.

Sample preparation and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) isolation

Blood samples were obtained from all the patients within 24 hours after admission. PBMCs were isolated by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation and were used for flow cytometric analysis and FACS sort and cell culture and real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Serum was collected after centrifugation, aliquoted, and frozen at −80°C for subsequent determination of cytokine expression.

Flow cytometric analyses

PBMCs were stained with anti-human CD4-FITC (R&D Systems) and anti-human LAP-PE (clone 27232, R&D Systems) for 30 min at 4°C. Anti-mouse IgG1-PE (R&D Systems) isotype controls were used to enable normalization and confirm antibody specificity. Antibodies were used without dilution. Stained cells were analyzed by flow cytometry using a FACS Calibur machine (BD).

PBMCs were resuspended at a density of 2×106 cells/ml in RPMI 1640 (ATCC modification A1049101 Gibco) supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum(Gibco), 10% non-essential amino acids solution (Gibco), 100 U/ml penicillin, and 100 U/ml streptomycin. The cell suspension was seeded in 24-well culture plates. Cells were stimulated by exposure to soluble anti-CD3 (eBioscience, 5 µg/ml) and anti-CD28 (eBioscience, 2 µg/ml each) for 24 hours. The incubator was set at 37°C under a 5% CO2 environment. After 24 hours, the cells were harvested and stained with anti-human LAP-APC (clone 27232, R&D Systems), anti-human CD4-FITC (R&D Systems), and anti-human GARP-PE (G14D9, eBioscience) for 30 min at 4°C. Antibodies were used without dilution. Following the surface staining, cells were analyzed by flow cytometry with FACS Calibur (BD).

Proliferation and suppression assays

PBMCs were stained with anti-human CD4-FITC (R&D Systems), anti- human-LAP-PE (R&D Systems), and anti-human CD25-PerCP (Biolegend) for 30 min at 4°C. Antibodies were used without dilution. After the surface staining, the responder T cells (Tresps; CD4+LAP−CD25int/low T cells) and CD4+LAP+ Tregs were obtained by FACS sorting using a FACs Aria (BDBiosciences). The purity of CD4+LAP−CD25int/low T cells was >97%, and the purity of CD4+LAP+ Tregs was >95%. In order to make a distinction between CD4+LAP+ Tregs and CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ Tregs, we confirmed that there was no Foxp 3 expression on the subset of CD4+LAP+ Tregs using flow cytometry and RT-PCR (Figure 1). Next we designed three experiments to investigate the function of CD4+LAP+ Tregs: 1) CD4+LAP−CD25int/low Tresps cultured alone, 2)CD4+LAP−CD25int/low Tresps and CD4+LAP+ Tregs were co-cultured at different ratios (Tregs/Tresps ratios: 1∶1, 1∶2 and 1∶4, 3) crossover experiment; CD4+LAP+ Tregs from ACS patients were co-cultured with CD4+LAP−CD25int/low Tresps from controls (CPS and CSA patients) at a 1∶1 ratio, CD4+LAP+ Tregs from controls were co-cultured with CD4+LAP−CD25int/low Tresps from ACS patients at a 1∶1 ratio. T cells were incubated in complete RPMI 1640 (ATCC modification A1049101 Gibco) supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum (Gibco), 10% non-essential amino acids solution (Gibco), 100 U/ml penicillin, and 100 U/ml streptomycin at 37°C with plate-bound (5 µg/ml, eBioscience) anti-CD3 and soluble anti-CD28 (2 µg/ml, eBioscience) in 5% CO2 for 72 h in U-bottom 96-well plates. Antibodies were used without dilution. All cells were cultured in a final volume of 200 µl. [3H]-thymidine (1 µl, Amersham Biosciences) was added to each well 16 h before the harvest of cells and the incorporation of [3H]-thymidine was assayed by scintillation counting (PerkinElmer).

[Figure omitted. See PDF.]

Figure 1. Foxp3 was not expressed on CD4+LAP+ Tregs.

(A) Representative FSC/SSC dot plot shows the gated CD4+ T cells. (B) Freshly isolated PBMCs were stained with CD4-FITC, LAP-PE, Foxp3-APC. We found no co-expression of LAP and Foxp3 on CD4 T cells. (C) RT-PCR analysis to determine Foxp3 expression in respective FACS-sorted populations.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0088775.g001

Real-time PCR

RNA was extracted from freshly isolated PBMCs and CD3/28-sitmulated PBMCs (as described above) with RNAiso Plus (Takara Biotechnology) and reverse transcribed to cDNA using a RNA PCR Kit (Takara), according to the manufacturer's instructions. Expression of target genes was quantified using the SYBR Green Master Mix (Takara) on an ABI Prism 7900 Sequence Detection system (Applied Biosystems). All reactions were performed in at least duplicate for each sample. Primer pairs were as follows:

GARP: Forward: 5′-CCCTGTAAGATGGTGGACAAGAA-3′;

Reverse: 5′-CAGATAGATCAAGGGTCTCAGTGTCT-3′

β-actin: Forward:5′-TCGTCCACCGCAAATGCTTCTAG-3′

Reverse: 5′-ACTGCTGTCACCTTCACCGTTCC-3′

Relative mRNA expression levels were calculated using the comparative CT methodformula 2-ΔΔCT. Data were normalized to β-actin [33].

Cytokines detection

The plasma levels of TGF-β1 and IL-10 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) according to the manufacturer's instructions (both from R&D Systems). The detection limits were 4.61 pg/mL for TGF-β1 and 3.9 pg/ml for IL-10. The intra-assay and inter-assay variation coefficients for all ELISA were <10%. All samples were measured in duplicate.

Statistical analyses

Data are expressed as the mean±SEM in the figures. Differences were evaluated using one-way ANOVA for multiple comparisons, followed by a post hoc Student-Newmann-Keuls test and multivariate analysis when necessary. For the ranked data, Pearson's X2 test or Fisher's exact test was performed for the comparison between groups. All analyses were conducted using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) 17.0 software, and statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

Results

Basic clinical characteristics of the study population are summarized in Table 1. There were no significant differences in age, gender, diabetes mellitus status, hypercholesterolemic status, or the use of aspirin or calcium blockers, or smoking status among the patients with ACS, CSA, or CPS groups. There were significant differences in hypertension and the use of clopidogrel, β-blockers, statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), and nitrates among the ACS, CSA, and CPS groups. However, we have compared CD4+LAP+ Tregs levels between patients with and without ongoing treatment with clopidogrel, β—blockers, statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, or nitrate, and these factors did not influence CD4+LAP+ Tregs expression use multivariate analysis, moreover, as shown previously, the circulating CD4+LAP+ Tregs levels were also not correlated with hypertension (data not shown) [48].

[Figure omitted. See PDF.]

Table 1. Clinical characteristics of the study population.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0088775.t001

The frequency of circulating CD4+LAP+ Tregs is decreased in patients with ACS

We determined the frequency of circulating CD4+LAP+ Tregs using flow cytometry. We found that the percentage of circulating CD4+LAP+ Tregs in the CD4+ T cell population was decreased significantly in patients with ACS (0.68±0.04%) compared to patients with CSA (1.2±0.12%) or CPS (1.45±0.14%) (p<0.001) as shown in Figure 2. There was no obvious difference between the CSA and CPS groups (p = 0.21).

[Figure omitted. See PDF.]

Figure 2. Frequencies of CD4+LAP+ Tregs in freshly isolated PBMCs from patients with CPS (n = 32), CSA (n = 18), and ACS (n = 44,AMI (n = 16) and UA (n = 28)).

(A) Representative FSC/SSC dot plot shows the gated CD4+ T cells. (B) Representative FACS analyses of a sample from each group show the frequencies of CD4+LAP+ Tregs (upper panels show isotype controls). (C) Percentages of CD4+LAP+ Tregs based on FACs analyses were comparable among ACS, CSA, and CPS groups. * p<0.01 vs. CSA or CPS; # p>0.05 vs. CPS.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0088775.g002

The frequency of circulating CD4+GARP+ T cells and CD4+LAP+GARP+ T cells is decreased in patients with ACS

GARP is reportedly a receptor of LAP. We therefore measured the expression of GARP on CD4+ T cells. As GARP is highly expressed on activated T cells, we first stimulated PBMCs with anti-CD3/28 for 24 hours prior to the assay. GARP expression was also measured on CD4+ T cells in freshly isolated PBMCs. Figure 3 shows expression of GARP on CD4+ T cells from each patient in the study. In both stimulated and unstimulated PBMCs, the frequencies of CD4+GARP+ T cells were reduced in ACS patients compared with CSA and CPS patients. In the unstimulated condition, the frequency of circulating CD4+GARP+ T cells (CD4+GARP+ T cells/CD4+ T cells) was reduced in patients with ACS (1.15±0.10%) compared with those with CSA (1.8±0.18%) or CPS (1.91±0.19%) (p<0.005), there was no obvious difference between the CSA and CPS groups (p = 0.68). In the stimulated condition, the frequency of CD4+GARP+ T cells was also reduced in patients with ACS (4.53±0.27%) compared with CSA (6.67±0.42%) and CPS (6.73±0.65%) (p<0.005). No obvious difference was found between the CSA and CPS group (p = 0.94).

[Figure omitted. See PDF.]

Figure 3. The expression of GARP on CD4+ T cells in freshly isolated PBMCs and CD3/28-sitmulated PBMCs.

Bood samples were collected from patients with CPS (n = 20), CSA (n = 17) and ACS (n = 37, AMI (n = 18), and UA (n = 19)). PBMCs were freshly isolated or stimulated with CD3/CD28 for 24 h. Then the cells were stained with anti-human CD4-FITC, anti-human GARP-PE and analyzed by flow cytometry using FACS Calibur (BD). (A) Representative dot plot shows the gated CD4+ T cells on the FSC/SSC. (B) Representative FACS images show GARP expression on CD4+ T cells in unstimulated PMBCs (upper panel) and stimulated PBMCs (lower panel) from one patient in each group. Comparison of the CD4+GARP+ T cells frequencies in unstimulated PBMCs (C) and stimulated PBMCs (D) among four groups. * p<0.01 vs. CSA or CPS; # p>0.05 vs. CPS.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0088775.g003

Next, we evaluated whether levels of LAP and GARP were reduced concomitantly on CD4+ T cells from ACS patients (Figure 4). PBMCs were stimulated with anti-CD3/28 and stained with anti-human LAP-APC (R&D Systems), anti-human CD4-FITC, and anti-human GARP-PE for 30 min at 4°C. We also evaluated unstimulated PBMCs. In the unstimulated group, the frequency of CD4+LAP+GARP+ T cells (CD4+LAP+GARP+ T cells/CD4+ T cells) was decreased in ACS patients (0.72±0.06%) compared with CSA (1.25±0.11%) and CPS (1.34±0.12%) patients (p<0.01), there was no obvious difference between the CSA and CPS groups (p = 0.64). In the stimulated group, the percentage of CD4+LAP+GARP+ T cells was also reduced in patients with ACS (3.75±0.21%) compared with CSA (4.55±0.24%) and CPS (4.66±0.24%) (p<0.01). Again, no differences were observed between the CSA and CPS groups (p = 0.75).

[Figure omitted. See PDF.]

Figure 4. The expression of GARP and LAP on CD4+ T cells in freshly isolated PBMCs and CD3/28-sitmulated PBMCs.

Bood samples were collected from patients with ACS (AMI (n = 10) and UA (n = 10)) and controls (CSA (n = 17), CPS (n = 20), and PBMCs were freshly isolated or stimulted with CD3/CD28 for 24 h, then the cells were stained with anti-human CD4-FITC,anti-human LAP-APC, anti-human GARP-PE and analyzed the data by flow cytometry using FACS Calibur (BD).(A) Representative dot plot shows the gated CD4 T cells on the FSC/SSC. (B) Representative FACS pictures show the GARP and LAP expreesion on CD4+ T cells in unstimulated PMBCs (upper panel) and stimulated PBMCs (lower panel) from one patient in each group. (C) Statistical analysis of the percentage CD4+LAP+ GARP+T cells. Dark bars indicate data from unstimulated samples. Hatched bars indicate data from stimulated samples. *p<0.05 vs. CSA or CPS; # p>0.05 vs.CPS.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0088775.g004

The function of CD4+LAP+ Tregs is compromised in patients with ACS

The ability of CD4+LAP+ Tregs to inhibit the proliferation of CD4+LAP−CD25int/low Tresps was determined using a [3H]-thymidine incorporation assay in co-cultures of Tregs and Tresps in different ratios (1∶1, 1∶2 and 1∶4). Our data demonstrated that CD4+LAP+ Tregs from ACS patients exhibited reduced capacity to suppress the proliferation of Tresps at all ratios compared with those from CSA and CPS groups. We next assessed the proliferation of CD4+LAP−CD25int/low T cells activated by anti-CD3/28; no significant difference was found among the three groups. A crossover experiment between ACS (AMI and UA) patients and control (CPS and CSA) groups also demonstrated that the function of CD4+LAP+ Tregs from ACS patients was impaired (Figure 5).

[Figure omitted. See PDF.]

Figure 5. CD4+LAP+ Tregs from patients with AMI and UA had reduced capacity to suppress responder T cell proliferation.

CD4+LAP+ Tregs and Tresps (CD4+LAP−CD25int/low T cells) from ACS patients (4 patients from the AMI group and 4 from the UA group), and controls (4 patients from CSA group and 4 patients from CPS) were purified by FACS sorting. (A) Reduced suppressive function of CD4+LAP+ Tregs from patients with ACS suggested by suppression assay. (B) Similar proliferative capacity of CD4+LAP−CD25int/low Tresps between ACS group and control (CSA and CPS) group. (C) Crossover experiment with ACS (AMI and UA) and control (CPS and CSA) groups. *p <0.05 vs. Controls.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0088775.g005

GARP mRNA expression decreased in patients with ACS

We measured the expression GARP mRNA by RT-PCR with freshly isolated PBMCs and CD3/28-sitmulated PBMCs. In stimulated PBMCs, the expression of GARP was decreased in ACS patients (0.69±0.09) compared with CSA (1.1±0.13) and CPS (1.13±0.13) groups (*p<0.05; Figure 6A). In unstimulated PBMCs, the expression of GARP was also decreased significantly in ACS patients (0.75±0.10) compared with CSA (1.12±0.11) and CPS (1.23±0.15) groups (*p<0.05) (Figure 6B). There was no difference in GARP expression in cells from CPS and CSA patients.

[Figure omitted. See PDF.]

Figure 6. GARP mRNA expression in PBMCs of patients with CPS (n = 19), CSA (n = 18), and ACS (n = 20; 8 AMI, 12 UA).

The ratio of GARP mRNA to β-actin mRNA was comparable in stimulated samples (A) and unstimulated samples (B) among the three groups. * p<0.05 vs. CSA or CPS; # p>0.05 vs. CPS.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0088775.g006

Serum levels of TGF-β1decreased in patients with ACS

TGF-β1 and IL-10 are the main effector cytokines of not only classic Tregs, but also CD4+LAP+ Tregs [14], [36]. As shown in Figure 7, TGF-β1 levels were reduced in patients with ACS (11.93±0.67 ng/ml) compared with CSA (15.5±1.15 ng/ml) and CPS (16.78±1.19 ng/ml) patients (p<0.05). There was no difference between CPS and CSA patients (p = 0.45). In contrast, there was no difference in IL-10 levels among the three groups (ACS, 27.39±1.37 pg/ml; CSA, 29.3±1.44 pg/ml; and CPS, 28.75±1.51 pg/ml) (p>0.05).

[Figure omitted. See PDF.]

Figure 7. Serum levels of TGF-β and IL-10 in patients with CPS (n = 21), CSA (n = 16), ACS (n = 28; 13 AMI, and 15 UA).

(A) The levels of TGF-β were reduced in ACS patient serum compared with that in CSA and CPS patients.* p<0.05 vs. CSA or CPS; # p>0.05 vs. CPS. (B) The levels of IL-10 were similar among all groups.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0088775.g007

Discussion

Due to the observation that regulatory T cells are associated with suppression of inflammation, many studies have attempted to elucidate the role of Tregs in inflammatory diseases [35]–[39]. Previous animal studies have demonstrated that enhancements in the numbers of circulating Tregs can alleviate the progression and severity of encephalomyelitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, colitis, diabetes, and heart failure [40]–[43]. Consistent with this purported function, it has been previously shown that acute coronary syndrome (ACS), a chronic inflammatory disease [1]–[4], is associated with a reduction in the number and function of circulating “classical” CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ Tregs [9]–[11], [44]–[46]. Since inflammation is known to be a significant contributor to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease, we studied the number and function of a novel subset of regulatory T cells, termed CD4+LAP+ Tregs, in patients with ACS. This subset of Tregs is stimulated by production of TGF-β and IL-10 and is known to possess potent anti-inflammatory activity (14). We hypothesized that the number and function of CD4+LAP+ Tregs would be reduced in patients with ACS compared to control patients (CSA and CPS).

We isolated CD4+LAP+ Tregs from PBMCs harvested from patients with AMI and UA (the ACS groups), and compared the number of Tregs to those of patients with CSA or CPS (control groups). The frequency of circulating CD4+LAP+ Tregs was significantly reduced in patients with ACS compared to frequencies in patients in the control groups. Furthermore, CD4+LAP+ Tregs functions of suppressing responder T cells from ACS patients were compromised as demonstrated by analyses of proliferation. These findings are similar to those reported by Cheng et al. [9]–[11] and other researchers [44]–[46].

Recent studies suggest that membrane glycoprotein A repetitions predominant (GARP or LRRC32) is a receptor for LAP on the surface of activated human Tregs[22]–[23]. This provided the rationale for us to examine whether the expression of GARP was altered. As expected, we found that the expression of GARP on CD4+ T cells was down-regulated in patients with ACS. We also found that percentages of CD4+LAP+GARP+ T cells were reduced in ACS patients compared with controls. GARP can regulate the bioavailability and activation of TGF-β by directly combined with LAP [22], [23], [47]. Thus, we conclude that GARP down-regulation is correlated with the defection of CD4+LAP+ Tregs. Additional studies are warranted to further evaluate the role of GARP in the pathogenesis of ACS.

Like CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ Tregs, the suppressive activity of CD4+LAP+ Tregs has been shown to be dependent on both TGF-β1 and IL-10 in vitro [14], [34]. We found that serum TGF-β1 levels were reduced in ACS patients compared with those of CSA and CPS patients, but we failed to detect a significant difference in IL-10 levels. Since, CD4+LAP+ Tregs secrete an array of cytokines, including IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IFN- γ, and TGF-β [14], the finding that TGF-β1 levels are reduced may suggest a decrease in function and number of circulating CD4+LAP+ Tregs in patients with ACS. Previous studies have shown that TGF-β can induce surface LAP expression on murine CD4+ T Cells[48], therefore, reduced TGF-β1 levels may account for the lower LAP expression on CD4+ T cells, and lead to the down-regulated frequency of CD4+LAP+ Tregs in patients with ACS. Since ACS patients feature higher systemic levels of inflammation, including CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, but lower levels of TGF-β1 [49], CD4+LAP+ Tregs may be involved in the progression of ACS.

In conclusion, this study is the first to demonstrate that the frequency of circulating CD4+LAP+ Tregs is reduced and their suppressive function compromised in patients with ACS. A possible mechanism for this effect may be related to the down-regulation of GARP and lower levels of TGF-β1. Yamamoto group demonstrated that local injection of LAP inhibits dermal sclerosis in bleomycin-induced murine scleroderma [50], Sandra Boswell team discovered a new peptide GPC81-95 can induce CD4+ T cells surface expression of LAP increase immune suppression of CD4+LAP+ Tregs [51], suggesting that increasing the numbers and enhancing the function of CD4+LAP+ Tregs may be a feasible therapeutic approach for treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases like ACS. As CD4+LAP+ Treg function appears to be compromised in patients with ACS, ACS patients might benefit from this therapeutic strategy. Further studies are warranted to elucidate how to up-regulate the GARP and LAP, thereby raising the frequency of circulating CD4+LAP+ Tregs in ACS patients. These additional studies are required to comprehensively explore the therapeutic potential of this novel subset of regulatory T cells in coronary heart disease.

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Tingting Tang for the assistance in preparation of this article.

Contributions

Performed the experiments: ZFZ KM LQ YCZ. Analyzed the data: QTZ XW ZFZ KM LQ YCZ XBM KWY PFZ WZ ZPR BWW QWJ. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: QTZ XW ZFZ KM LQ YCZ. Wrote the paper: QTZ XW ZFZ KM LQ YCZ. Study concept and design: QTZ XW ZFZ KM LQ YCZ. Acquisition and interpretation of data: QTZ XW ZFZ KM LQ YCZ XBM KWY PFZ WZ ZPR BWW. Critical revision of the manuscript and study supervision: QTZ XW ZFZ KM LQ YCZ.

Author Contributions

Performed the experiments: ZFZ KM LQ YCZ. Analyzed the data: QTZ XW ZFZ KM LQ YCZ XBM KWY PFZ WZ ZPR BWW QWJ. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: QTZ XW ZFZ KM LQ YCZ. Wrote the paper: QTZ XW ZFZ KM LQ YCZ. Study concept and design: QTZ XW ZFZ KM LQ YCZ. Acquisition and interpretation of data: QTZ XW ZFZ KM LQ YCZ XBM KWY PFZ WZ ZPR BWW. Critical revision of the manuscript and study supervision: QTZ XW ZFZ KM LQ YCZ.

Citation: Zhu Z-F, Meng K, Zhong Y-C, Qi L, Mao X-B, Yu K-W, et al. (2014) Impaired Circulating CD4+LAP+ Regulatory T Cells in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome and Its Mechanistic Study. PLoS ONE 9(2): e88775. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0088775

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