Abnormal Expression Pattern of the IL-2 Receptor β-Chain on CD4⁺ T Cells in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis

Figure 5

The IL-2 receptor 𝛽-chain is markedly reduced on Tregs in AAV and CD122 expression on CD4⁺ T cells is associated with disease parameters. (a) In contrast to HC, CD122 (IL-2r 𝛽-chain) is only expressed by a minority of Tregs in AAV (CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ Tregs: %CD122⁺  38±18% versus 68±5%, 𝑃=0.002). (b) Likewise, CD122 expression is diminished on activated CD4⁺ T-helper cells in AAV (CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3^neg T cells: %CD122⁺  15±11% versus 27±13%, 𝑃=0.03). (c) The relapse rate is negatively correlated with CD122 expression on CD25⁺ CD4⁺ T cells (𝑟=−0.55, 𝑃=0.004). The relapse rate (relapses per month) was calculated by dividing the amount of total, previous relapses by the disease duration in months. (d) Patients with systemic, renal vasculitis had lower expression of CD122 on Tregs than patients with localized, nonrenal disease (CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ Tregs: %CD122⁺34±19% versus 49±10%, 𝑃=0.04). Horizontal bar indicates the mean value. *𝑃 value < 0.05 and **𝑃 value < 0.005.

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