Do Foxp3⁺ Regulatory T Cells (Treg Cells) Play a Role in the Immunopathogenesis of Primary/Idiopathic Minimal Change Disease?

Table 1

Studies supporting Treg cell involvement in the immunopathogenesis of minimal change disease.

Reference	Disease	Population	Immunopathogenic findings
[6]	MCD or FSGS	38 children	More infiltrating T cells when compared to controls but reduced number of infiltrating Foxp3^+ T cells in both MCD and FSGS patients
[7]	INS	41 children	Decreased numbers of peripheral CD39^+Foxp3^+ Treg cells and impaired ATP catabolism
[8]	MCD	21 Adults	Similar number of Foxp3^+ Treg cells compared to controls but reduced suppressive function during active disease
[9]	MCD	25 adults	Increased circulating Th17 cells over Treg cells when compared to controls, which correlated with severity of proteinuria. Ratios reverted upon steroid therapy in most patients
[10]	INS	36 children	Increased circulating Th17 cells over Treg cells when compared to controls, together with increased intrarenal IL-17 expression
[11]	MCD + IPEX	5-year-old boy	The occurrence of MCD in IPEX syndrome, where Treg cells are deficient, suggests a possible pathogenic association

FSGS: focal segmental glomerulosclerosis; INS: idiopathic nephrotic syndrome; IPEX: immunodysregulation polyendocrinopathy X-linked syndrome; MCD: minimal change disease.