Characteristics of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome

Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) is a systemic inflammation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) in patients with MODS and to determine the association between Treg cells and serum cytokine levels. The percentage of Treg in 42 MODS patients and 10 healthy subjects was evaluated using flow cytometry. Serum levels of cytokines were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The percentage of Treg cells was significantly elevated in patients with MODS on Day 1 (P<0.05). At Day 7, the percentage of Treg cells in MODS patients was reduced, but remained higher in comparison with the control group (P<0.05). The CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio and the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL) -2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-1 beta were significantly enhanced in patients with MODS by Day 1. TNF-alpha, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10 levels were gradually reduced to normal by Day 7, whereas the IL-6, IL-8 and IL-1 beta levels remained higher compared with the healthy subjects (P<0.001). The present results demonstrated an elevated percentage of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) Treg cells in patients with MODS. Therefore, the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8 may promote MODS development, whereas the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 may protect against MODS.