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Investigation of regulatory T cells in anorexia nervosa

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Abstract

Objective:

The aim of our study was to determine, how severe calorie restriction in anorexia nervosa (AN) may influence regulatory T (Treg) cells and their cellular networks, that is, their main inducers (dendritic cells (DC) and monocytes) and their target cells, CD4+ lymphocytes.

Design:

We measured the prevalence of Tregs, myeloid and plasmocytoid DC. The prevalence of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-12-positive monocytes, IL-2, IL-4 and interferon (IFN)-γ positive CD4+ cells was determined by intracellular staining after activation.

Setting and subjects:

In total, 21 AN patients and 19 healthy age-matched controls (body mass index values, median (range): 14.9 (11.1–17.4) vs 23.2 (19.5–27.4) kg/m2) have been recruited.

Results:

Prevalence of Tregs, DCs, TNF-α and IL-12-positive monocytes, IL-4 and IFN-γ-producing CD4+ cells were similar in AN and controls. The prevalence of IL-2-positive CD4+ cells was somewhat lower in AN (% value, median (range): 12.05 (7.50–16.70) vs 14.40 (12.00–22.00), P<0.05). None of these parameters correlated with the patients' clinical characteristics.

Conclusions:

Our results suggest that the antigen presenting cell – regulatory T cell – CD4+ lymphocyte axis is not affected by calorie and nutritional deficiency.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grants OTKA T046086, NKFP 1A/002/2004 and GVOP 3.1.1-2004/300. BV and AT are recipients of Bolyai Stipend.

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Author notes

  1. B Pászthy and P Švec: These authors have equally contributed to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary

    B Pászthy

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Comenius University School of Mecidine, Bratislava, Slovakia

    P Švec

  3. Research Group of Pediatrics and Nephrology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungary

    B Vásárhelyi, T Tulassay & A Treszl

  4. National Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Hungary

    F Túry & J Mazzag

Authors
  1. B Pászthy
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  2. P Švec
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  3. B Vásárhelyi
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  4. F Túry
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  5. J Mazzag
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  6. T Tulassay
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  7. A Treszl
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to B Vásárhelyi.

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Pászthy, B., Švec, P., Vásárhelyi, B. et al. Investigation of regulatory T cells in anorexia nervosa. Eur J Clin Nutr 61, 1245–1249 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602651

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602651

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