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Abstract

Background: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) represent 5–10% of the total T cell population and are known as potent suppressors of the immune system. They are crucial for managing immune activation, ensuring peripheral tolerance, and supporting tissue repair and overall homeostasis. These cells are characterized by the expression of specific biomarkers, including CD4+, FOXP3+, and CD25+. While CD4 and CD25 were initially used for their identification, the discovery of CD25 on other T cell types led to a more precise evaluation of Tregs through the assessment of the intracellular Foxp3 transcription factor.

Objective: The primary goal of this study was to determine the function of regulatory T cells in patients with ischemic heart disease by measuring the concentrations of their key markers (CD4+, CD25+, and FOXP3+).

Patients and Methods: This was a case-controlled study that included 45 patients with a clinical diagnosis of IHD and 45 healthy individuals as a control group. Of the patients, 30 (66.7%) were male and 15 (33.3%) were female. Samples were collected from a specialized cardiac center in Baghdad, Iraq, between October and December 2022. Serum levels of CD4, CD25, and FOXP3 were quantitatively measured using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) according to the manufacturer’s protocol.

Results: The mean CD4 level was found to be significantly higher in the patient group compared to the control group. Similarly, the mean CD25 level was also significantly elevated in the IHD group. In contrast, the mean FOXP3 level was significantly lower among the patients compared to the healthy controls.

Conclusion: The study found that males were more commonly affected by IHD than females. It also revealed a notable imbalance in the T regulatory cell markers, with significantly higher levels of CD4+ and CD25+ and significantly lower levels of FOXP3+ in the patient group, highlighting their potential role in the disease pathology.

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