S Minning1, Y Xiaofan2, X Anqi2, G Bingjie1, S Dinglei1, Z Mingshun2, X Juan2, J Xiaohui2, W Huijuan2. 1. 1 Department of Rheumatology, Nanjing First Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. 2. 2 Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in CD8+CD28-/CD8+CD28+ T-cell subset balance and in the CD8+CD28- Treg cell number and function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: Cell isolation and flow cytometry analysis were employed to investigate the T-cell subsets. RESULTS: It was found that in high-activity SLE patients, the CD8+CD28+ T-cell subset was reduced, which was inversely correlated with the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), and that the CD8+CD28-/CD8+CD28+ ratio was elevated, which was positively correlated with SLEDAI and with renal damage and inversely correlated with serum complement level, whereas the CD8+CD28- T-cell subset was increased only in inactive patients. It was also found that apoptosis of CD8+ T cells increased, and Fas, Fas ligand (FasL) and interleukin (IL)-6 expression were high, whereas cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) expression was low by the CD8+CD28+ T cell subset in active SLE patients; apoptosis was positively correlated with SLEDAI and with the expression of Fas and FasL by the CD8+CD28+ T-cell subset in active SLE patients. IL-6 and CTLA-4 expression were found to be low by the CD8+CD28- T cell subset in active SLE patients. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that high expression of Fas, FasL and IL-6 and low expression of CTLA-4 by the CD8+CD28+ T-cell subset promotes the activation-induced cell death of the CD8+CD28+ T-cell subset, resulting in an imbalance of CD8+CD28-/CD8+CD28+ T cells in active SLE patients, which represents an important feature in the immunological pathogenesis of SLE. The CD8+CD28- T-cell subset may play some role in inactive SLE.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in CD8+CD28-/CD8+CD28+ T-cell subset balance and in the CD8+CD28- Treg cell number and function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: Cell isolation and flow cytometry analysis were employed to investigate the T-cell subsets. RESULTS: It was found that in high-activity SLEpatients, the CD8+CD28+ T-cell subset was reduced, which was inversely correlated with the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), and that the CD8+CD28-/CD8+CD28+ ratio was elevated, which was positively correlated with SLEDAI and with renal damage and inversely correlated with serum complement level, whereas the CD8+CD28- T-cell subset was increased only in inactive patients. It was also found that apoptosis of CD8+ T cells increased, and Fas, Fas ligand (FasL) and interleukin (IL)-6 expression were high, whereas cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) expression was low by the CD8+CD28+ T cell subset in active SLEpatients; apoptosis was positively correlated with SLEDAI and with the expression of Fas and FasL by the CD8+CD28+ T-cell subset in active SLEpatients. IL-6 and CTLA-4 expression were found to be low by the CD8+CD28- T cell subset in active SLEpatients. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that high expression of Fas, FasL and IL-6 and low expression of CTLA-4 by the CD8+CD28+ T-cell subset promotes the activation-induced cell death of the CD8+CD28+ T-cell subset, resulting in an imbalance of CD8+CD28-/CD8+CD28+ T cells in active SLEpatients, which represents an important feature in the immunological pathogenesis of SLE. The CD8+CD28- T-cell subset may play some role in inactive SLE.