AIM:To investigate changes and significance of CD4⁺CD25⁺T cells and expression of FOXP3 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cell(PBMC)from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR)and observe its clinical significance on pathogenesis of PDR.

METHODS: Flow cytometry was used to analyze the proportion of CD4⁺ CD25⁺ T cells in PBMC with PDR and normal control, the expression of FOXP3, IL-17, CTLA-4 mRNA in patients with PDR, diabetes and normal control were detected by Q-PCR. The clinical data of glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c), age, blood lipid, renal function and the degree of their relevance were analysed by Wilcoxon rank and inspection, Linear correlation analysis.

RESULTS:CD4⁺ T cells decreased, CD4⁺CD25⁺T with no significant difference, FOXP3 and CLAT-4 decreased in PDR, IL-17 increased in PDR patients. CD4⁺T cells associated with age, the level of CD4⁺CD25⁺T was positive correlation with the patient's serum creatinine(Cr), but had no significant with age, HbA1c, blood lipid, Cr and urea nitrogen(BUN). HbA1c, triglyceride(TG), cholesterol, low density lipoprotein(LDL)were higher than normal value in PDR patients.

CONCLUSION: CD4⁺ CD25⁺ T cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of PDR. In addition, abnormal blood lipid indicate that PDR may be associate with blood lipid level.