Peripheral blood regulatory T cells and disease activity, quality of life, and outcomes in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

To measure regulatory T cell (Treg) levels in the peripheral blood of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and analyse the association of this measure with disease activity, quality of life, adjustment of treatment, and hospitalisation.

We conducted a two-phase study (cross-sectional and prospective), including consecutive children with a JIA diagnosis according to ILAR criteria. Our independent variables were Tregs, Th1, Th2, and cytokines in peripheral blood, and our dependent variables in the cross-sectional phase were arthritis category, JIA activity, and patient-reported outcomes. To test associations, we used Spearman’s correlation coefficient and the Mann-Whitney U test. In the prospective phase, we explored the probability of treatment adjustment and hospitalisation for JIA during follow-up according to Tregs levels at baseline, using Cox proportional regression.

Our sample included 87 participants (median age 11 years, 63.2% girls). Tregs were not associated with most variables of interest. However, we found that higher Tregs concentration was associated with lower erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and better subjective disease status and course, while higher IL-10 and TGF-β levels were associated with lower ESR, less pain, and better subjective disease status We found no association between Tregs and treatment adjustments or hospitalisation.

Higher baseline Treg levels in the peripheral blood of children with JIA may be associated with reduced disease activity and better quality of life, though were not informative on the inflammatory progression on the follow-up.