Evaluation of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells and FOXP3 mRNA in premature ovarian insufficiency

Objective: T cell-mediated injury plays an important role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). The purpose of this study was to assess the percentage of CD4(+)CD25(+)FOXP3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells and the level of forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3) mRNA expression in POI patients. Methods: The case-control study compared 30 POI patients with 30 healthy subjects. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected. The percentage of CD4(+)CD25(+)FOXP3(+) Treg cells was measured by flow cytometry using specific monoclonal antibodies recognizing the CD4(+), CD25(+), and FOXP3(+) markers. FOXP3 gene expression was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction. In addition, the levels of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and adrenal cortex autoantibody (AAA) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The percentage of CD4(+)CD25(+)FOXP3(+) Treg cells and the level of FOXP3 mRNA expression were significantly decreased in the POI patients compared with the control subjects. Moreover, the women with POI showed significantly increased levels of IFN-gamma and AAA but reduced levels of TGF-beta 1. Conclusions: Our study suggested that POI may be associated with an abrogated function of circulating CD4(+)CD25(+)FOXP3(+) Treg cells and a decreased level of FOXP3 gene expression. However, these results require further investigation.