Characteristics of CLA⁺Tregs in rheumatoid arthritis and their potential as biomarkers of treatment response
Main finding · CLA+ Tregs, RA vs healthy controls (most significantly reduced subset)Result — go to the resultOdds ratio 0.825 CI 0.764–0.891Authors' conclusion
The results demonstrated a significant reduction of CLA+ Tregs in active RA, especially in patients with systemic damages.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and healthy controls; 12 T cell subsets, total T cells, B cells and NK cells analysed
- Participants
- 169 vs 114
- Comparison
- RA vs healthy controls
- RAn = 169
- Healthy controlsn = 114reference
- Outcome
- Association between immune cell subsets (CLA+ Tregs) and RA
Methodological detailsflow cytometry, logistic regression
- Flow cytometry
- Logistic regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
CLA+ Tregs, RA vs healthy controls (most significantly reduced subset)
Odds ratio
0.825
CI 0.764–0.891
P < 0.001
RAvs Healthy controls
OR 0.825 (CI 0.764–0.891); P < 0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Decreased CLA+ Tregs and active disease status
- Adjusted OR
- 0.814 [0.733-0.902], p = 0.004
- AUC
- 0.916 [0.869-0.963], p < 0.001
Decreased CLA+ Tregs and clinical features
- Associated with higher swollen joint count, tender joint count and DAS28, and systemic involvement (interstitial lung disease (ILD), anaemia, fever, skin vasculitis)
- Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-MCV correlated with lower CLA+ Tregs
CLA+ Tregs after treatment vs baseline, with improved disease activity
- Percentage, median, baseline vs after treatment
- 9.60% vs. 18.80%, p = 0.044
- Absolute count, baseline vs after treatment
- 3.41 cells/µL vs. 7.86 cells/µL, p = 0.011
Original publication
Characteristics of CLA⁺Tregs in rheumatoid arthritis and their potential as biomarkers of treatment response. Arthritis Res Ther. Published 19 March 2026. doi:10.
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