Changes of cytokines levels after decreasing regulatory T cells activity during sepsis

Background: Regulatory T cells have unique immunological characteristics compared with other regulatory or suppressor T cells, immunosuppressive cytokines produced by Tregs, including transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta and IL-10, might also play a role in the suppression of effector T cells. To investigate in vivo and in vitro the changes of cytokines levels after decreasing regulatory T cells activity in mouse after sepsis. Material/ Methods: In this study, Abdominal hypertension and peritonitis-induced sepsis was affected by cecal ligation and puncture surgery (CLP), PC61 and anti-Transforming growth factor beta (TGF)-beta antibody were used to decrease CD4(+) CD25(+) Treg cell levels and inhibit TGF-beta activity in vivo and vitro, respectively. Interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-10, interferon (IFN)-., and TGF-beta in the peripheral blood and in the culture supernatants were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Results: We found that mortality rate was significantly decreased in CLP animals treated with PC61 group compared with CLP group. Meanwhile, administration of PC61 or anti-TGF-beta antibody, IL-2 and IFN-. levels were significantly increased in comparison to the CLP induced sepsis group, thus levels of IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-beta markedly decreased. Conclusions: These findings suggest that decreasing regulatory T cells activity might affect cytokine levels in mouse after sepsis, possibly through TGF-beta signaling.