Effects of tacrolimus (FK506) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) on regulatory T cells and co-inhibitory receptors in the peripheral blood of human liver allograft patients

作者：Qiang Zeng, Xiaoye Yuan, Wei Li, Baowang Liu, Xin Zhao, Guijun Ren, Yang Wang, Jian Dou, Guiying Wang · 发表于：Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology · 年份：2019 · DOI：10.1080/08923973.2018.1533026 · 被引用次数：18 · 研究领域：Immune Cell Function and Interaction、Renal Transplantation Outcomes and Treatments、Organ Transplantation Techniques and Outcomes

Context: Recent studies have shown that a combination treatment of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and tacrolimus (FK506) may be an option for organ transplantation patients.Objective: In this study, we detected the effects of FK506 and MMF on the expressions of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and co-inhibitory receptors on Tregs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of patients with stable phase after liver transplantation.Materials and methods: A total of 35 patients with stable stage after 6 months of liver transplantation were divided into two groups including 20 patients were treated with FK506 monotherapy (FK506 group), and 15 patients with FK506 and MMF combination (FK506 + MMF group). 15 healthy subjects were served as the control.Results: It is found that percentages of CD3+, CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ T cells in FK506 group are lowered compared to the control group but they are elevated in FK506 + MMF group. Amount of CD4+CD25+CD127low/-Treg cells in CD3+ CD4+T cells in FK506 + MMF group was higher than that in FK506 group and control group. The expressions of co-inhibitory receptors (CTLA-4, PD-1, Tim-3, LAG-3 and TIGIT) on Tregs in FK506 + MMF group were significant higher than those in the FK506 group and control group. The levels of the relative cytokines (TGF-β and IL-10) in FK506 group are down-regulated compared to the control group.Conclusion: The application of FK506 combined with MMF may be superior to FK506 monotherapy for the patients to further induce the immu...