目的探讨脓毒症时CD4^+CD25^+调节性T细胞(Treg)天冬氨酸特异性半胱氨酸蛋白酶-3/9(caspase-3/9)活性变化及其与激活诱导细胞凋亡的关系。方法体外培养免疫磁珠法分选大鼠脾脏CD4^+CD25^+Treg,随机分为对照组、抗CD3/CD28组、抗CD3/CD28+脂多糖(LPS)组,培养3d后采用流式细胞术检测Treg凋亡率,荧光比色法检测caspase-3/9活性。同时采用盲肠结穿孔术(CLP)复制大鼠脓毒症模型,将动物随机分为正常对照组、假手术组、CLP组,于第3日分离Treg后检测Treg凋亡率和caspase-3/9活性。结果体外实验显示,抗CD3/CD28组和抗CD3/CD28+LPS组CD4^+CD25^+Treg凋亡率均显著高于对照组(P均〈0.01),而抗CD3/CD28+LPS组Treg凋亡率明显低于抗CD3/CD28组(P〈0.05)。抗CD3/CD28组caspase-3/9活性均显著高于对照组(P均〈0.01);抗CD3/CD28+LPS组caspase-3/9活性则明显低于抗CD3/CD28组(P均〈0.01)。体内实验显示,CLP组CD4^+CD25^+Treg凋亡率和caspase-3活性均显著低于正常对照组和假手术组(P均〈0.01),但caspase-9活性改变不明显(P均〉0.05)。结论脓毒症病理过程中CD4^+CD25^+Treg凋亡率明显下降,caspase-3激活是诱发Treg凋亡的重要途径之一。
Objective To investigate the changes in caspase-3/9 activities of CD4^+CD25^+ regulatory T cells (Treg) under septic situation in vitro and in vivo and their relationship with activation induced cell death (AICD). Methods In an in vitro experiment, CD4^+CD25^+Tregs separated by MACS were divided into three groups., control group, anti-CD3/CD28 group and anti-CD3/CD28+ lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group. Apoptotic rates of Tregs were detected by flow cytometry (FCM), and activities of caspase-3 as well as caspase-9 were analyzed by colorimetric assay kit on day 3. In an in vivo experiment, Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups., control group, sham operation group, and cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) group. CD4^+CD25^+Tregs were separated on day 3. Apoptotic rates and caspase-3/9 activities of CD4^+ CD25^+Tregs were also determined, respectively. Results The in vitro experiment showed that the apoptotic rates of CD4^+CD25^+Tregs in anti-CD3/CD28 and anti-CD3/CD28+LPS groups were obviously higher than the apoptotic rate in the control group (both P〈0. 01), and the apoptotic rate was markedly lower in anti-CD3/CD28+LPS group than that in anti-CD3/CD28 group (P〈0. 05). Meanwhile, the activities of caspase-3/9 in anti-CD3/CD28 group were significantly higher than those in the control group (both P〈 0. 01); and they were markedly lower in anti-CD3/CD28+LPS group than those in anti-CD3/CD28 group (both P〈 0.01). The in vivo experiment revealed that the apoptotic rate of CD4^+CD25^+ Tregs and the caspase-3 activity in the CLP group was significantly lower than that in the control and sham operation groups (all P〈0. 01), but no marked changes in caspase-9 activities were found among the three groups (all P〉 0. 05). Conclusion Apoptosis of CD4^+CD25^+Tregs appears to be down-regulated during septic pathological process, and the activation of caspase-3 might be one of the major pathways associated with apoptosis of CD4^?