OKT4+ T cell deficiency and an association of immunoglobulin deficiency in systemic lupus erythematosus.

A patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and selective serum IgA and IgM deficiency also had a deficiency of OKT4+, OKT4A+, OKT4B+, and OKT4E+ T cells in circulating blood. This deficiency of helper/inducer T cell subsets in blood was associated with impaired T cell responses to phytohaemagglutinin in vitro, and an impaired ability to produce IgA and IgM by the patient's B cells. The patient's OKT4+ (CD4+) T cell deficient population suppressed IgM synthesis by normal B and T cells.     

CD4+CD25+T细胞在系统性红斑狼疮中的表达及意义

目的：探讨CD4^＋ CD25^＋ T细胞、IL-10在系统性红斑狼疮（SLE）患者外周血的表达及临床意义。方法：入组30例SLE患者和20例正常对照者，其中活动性SLE患者17人，非活动性SLE患者13人。用流式细胞仪检测SLE患者和正常对照者的外周血CD4^＋ CD25^＋ T细胞阳性率，用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）检测血清中IL-10浓度。结果：活动性和非活动性SLE患者CD4^＋ T细胞总数均低于正常对照者；活动性和非活动性SLE患者CD4^＋ CD25^＋ T细胞阳性率高于正常对照者；活动性SLE患者IL-10浓度显著高于非活动性SLE患者和正常对照者。SLE患者CD4^＋ CD25^＋ T细胞阳性率和血清IL-10浓度与补体C3、抗DNA抗体水平及SLEDAI积分均无相关性。结论：SLE患者外周血CD4^＋ CD25^＋ T细胞是活化T细胞的标志，IL-10分泌异常与SLE的发病有关。     

Decreased CD4+CD25+ T cells in peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Recent animal studies have shown that CD4+CD25+ T cells play a crucial role in the suppression of the immune response and that depletion of this subset of T cells might lead to development of autoimmune diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the levels of CD4+CD25+ T cells in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Ninety-four SLE patients, 52 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 50 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. A flowcytometric method was applied in the measurement of CD4+CD25+ T cells. The results showed that patients with SLE had statistically lower levels of CD4+CD25+ T cells than did normal controls, when expressed as either percentages of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) (mean +/- SD, 8.49 +/- 6.36 versus 11.11 +/- 4.58%, P < 0.05) or absolute cell numbers (98.77 +/- 97.52 versus 213.93 +/- 104.52 cells/mm3, P < 0.05). In terms of CD25brightCD4+ T cells, defined as having a fluorescence intensity of CD25 expression exceeding 100, SLE patients still had significantly lower levels than did normal controls expressed as percentages of PBMCs (1.76 +/- 1.32 versus 3.73 +/- 1.30%, P < 0.05). No significant differences could be found between RA patients and normal controls. The overwhelming majority of CD4+CD25+ T cells belonged to CD45RO+ cells and most did not express the CD69 molecule. Although decreased CD4+CD25+ T cells were found in SLE patients, we failed to find a significant correlation between the levels of CD4+CD25+ T cells and disease activities of SLE. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that patients with SLE had decreased CD4+CD25+ T cells. However, the exact role of the decreased CD4+CD25+ T cells in the pathogenesis of SLE remains to be elucidated.     

HLA-DP-positive T cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

HLA-DP+ T cells in peripheral blood from 23 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were examined using two-colour flow cytometry analysis. A marked increase of HLA-DP+ T cells was observed in patients with SLE (20.5-98.7%; 59.8 +/- 20.8%) in comparison to normal subjects (1.3-20.6%; 11.1 +/- 7.2%), and the ratio of these cells greatly exceeded that of the HLA-DR+ T cells (6.5-49.1%; 21.5 +/- 12.7%). This high frequency of HLA-DP+ T cells in patients with active SLE decreased with prednisolone therapy. When the lymphocytes from normal subjects were stimulated with PHA in vitro, HLA-DP+ T cells increased from 1.8 to 59.2%. Therefore, it appears that the HLA-DP antigen expression on T cells is a practical marker for monitoring changes in the proportion of activated T cells in patients with SLE during the course of therapy.     

Regulatory T cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Regulatory T cells have an important role in the control of self-reactivity, and in the pathogenesis of autoimmune inflammatory conditions. The aim of this work was to perform a quantitative and functional analysis of regulatory T cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We studied twenty-three patients with SLE (19 active, 4 inactive), and twenty-seven healthy subjects as well as fifteen patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The following cell subsets were analyzed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells by flow cytometry: CD4+CD25+, CD4+CD25(bright), CD4+Foxp3+ (Treg cells), CD8+CD28- (Ts cells), CD4+IL-10+ (Tr1 cells), and CD4+TGF-beta+ (Th3 cells). In addition, the in vitro suppressive activity of CD4+CD25+ lymphocytes was tested. We found no significant differences in the levels of all regulatory cell subsets studied in SLE patients compared to controls and RA patients. However, a defective regulatory function of CD4+CD25+T cells was observed in a significant fraction (31%) of patients with SLE. Our data indicate that although approximately one third of patients with SLE show an abnormal immunosuppressive function of Treg lymphocytes, their levels of the different regulatory T cell subsets in peripheral blood are not significantly different from those found in controls.     

CD4+CD25+调节性T细胞与系统性红斑狼疮病情活动性关系的研究

目的：检测系统性红斑狼疮患者外周血CD4^＋CD25^＋、CD4^＋CD8^＋调节性T细胞亚群，探讨其与疾病活动性、肾脏损伤、血清抗ds-DNA抗体及免疫球蛋白和补体C3含量的关系。方法：采用流式细胞术检测北京协和医院住院和门诊SLE患者（n=37）外周血CD4^＋CD25^＋T、CD4^＋CD8^＋T细胞群比例，以15例RA和15例SS组成自身免疫性疾病对照，30例健康体检者作为正常对照，观察调节性T细胞亚群与SLE患者疾病活动性指标SLEDAI、IgG、C3及血清抗ds-DNA抗体的关系。结果：①疾病活动期SLE患者外周血CD4^＋CD25^＋调节性T细胞群比例显著低于正常对照组（P〈0.01），疾病稳定期和风湿性疾病对照组与正常对照组结果差异无统计学意义。疾病活动期和稳定期SLE患者CD4＋CD8＋T细胞群比例都略高于正常对照组，但未发现结果差异有统计学意义（P〉0.05）。②疾病活动期SLE患者外周血CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞比例及CD4^＋CD25^＋/CD4^＋值显著低于稳定期患者（P〈0.01）。SLE患者外周血CD4^＋CD25^＋/CD4^＋值与SLEDAI、补体C3呈低度相关（r分别为-0.491、0.368，P〈0.05），CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞数量与SLEDAI呈负相关（r=-0.578，P〈0.05）。③SLE并发肾病组外周血CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞群比例及CD4^＋CD25^＋/CD4^＋值显著低于非肾病组（P〈0.01；P〈0.05）。同一SLE患者治疗前后CD3^＋CD4^-CD8^-细胞和NK细胞降低，CD4^＋CD25^＋细胞、CD4^＋CD25^＋/CD4^＋值及CD8^＋T细胞增加，但未发现这些结果差异有统计学意义。本次研究未发现NK细胞、CD4^＋CD8＋T细胞、CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞群比例在ds-DNA＋组与ds-DNA-组之间结果差异有统计学意义。结论：SLE患者外周血CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞群比例与SLEDAI成负相关，与肾脏的损害也有密切关系，但与血清抗ds-DNA抗体产生的关系不明显。活动期SLE患者外周血CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞减少，稳定期CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞比例回升，因此推测CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞的变化可能是导致疾病发生和病情发展及相关器官（如肾脏）损伤的关键环节之一。     

从CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T细胞变化看系统性红斑狼疮外周免疫耐受失衡

目的: 检测CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T细胞在系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)患者外周血中的表达,探讨该细胞亚群在SLE发病机制中的意义.方法: 采用流式细胞术检测25例SLE患者和15例健康对照的外周血CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T细胞比例、分析其表型;利用免疫磁珠细胞分选法(MACS)分选出CD4+CD25-T细胞,通过实时定量聚合酶链反应(real-time PCR)检测FOXP3基因表达.结果: 活动期和稳定期SLE患者外周血CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T细胞比例分别是: (9.89 ±0.85)%和(7.11±0.86)%,与健康对照组 (3.35±0.31)% 比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.01).SLE患者CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T细胞表达频率与SLEDAI评分呈明显正相关(P=0.0008).活动期SLE患者CD4+CD25-T细胞中Foxp3在蛋白和基因转录水平上的表达均高于健康对照组(P<0.01).SLE患者CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T细胞表面低表达CD127.结论: SLE患者外周血中CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T细胞比例变化可能反应了SLE发病中T细胞外周免疫失耐受机制"调节性T细胞的抑制效应被抵抗".     

Effect of oestrogen on T cell apoptosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Defective control of T cell apoptosis is considered to be one of the pathogenetic mechanisms in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Oestrogen has been known to predispose women to SLE and also to exacerbate activity of SLE; however, the role of oestrogen in the apoptosis of SLE T cells has not yet been documented. In this study, we investigated the direct effect of oestrogen on the activation‐induced cell death of T cells in SLE patients. The results demonstrated that oestradiol decreased the apoptosis of SLE T cells stimulated with phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA) plus ionomycin in a dose‐dependent manner. In addition, oestradiol down‐regulated the expression of Fas ligand (FasL) in activated SLE T cells at the both protein and mRNA levels. In contrast, testosterone increased FasL expression dose‐dependently in SLE T cells stimulated with PMA plus ionomycin. The inhibitory effect of oestradiol on FasL expression was mediated through binding to its receptor, as co‐treatment of tamoxifen, an oestrogen receptor inhibitor, completely nullified the oestradiol‐induced decrease in FasL mRNA expression. Moreover, pre‐treatment of FasL‐transfected L5178Y cells with either oestradiol or anti‐FasL antibody inhibited significantly the apoptosis of Fas‐sensitive Hela cells when two types of cells were co‐cultured. These data suggest that oestrogen inhibits activation‐induced apoptosis of SLE T cells by down‐regulating the expression of FasL. Oestrogen inhibition of T cell apoptosis may allow for the persistence of autoreactive T cells, thereby exhibiting the detrimental action of oestrogen on SLE activity.     

Human T cell clones allospecific for HLA-DR5 antigen with the OKT8 phenotype

Human allospecific T-lymphocyte clones reactive in the primed lymphocyte (PLT) and/or the CML assays were established and grown using T cell growth factor and weekly stimulation with a pool of allogeneic feeder cells. Specificity of selected clones was determined by their reactivity with a panel of HLA-typed lymphocytes. The phenotype of the clones was identified by monoclonal antibodies and complement lysis. Two weakly cytolytic clones, which specifically proliferated in response to DR5 bearing lymphocytes in PLT, possessed the OKT8 marker, suggesting that this determinant is not exclusively involved in the recognition of class I antigens.     

Expression profile of PU.1 in CD4+T cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Clinical and Experimental Medicine - Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease with complex genetic predisposing factors involved. PU.1 is an important member of the...     

Increased CCR4 expression in active systemic lupus erythematosus.

CC chemokine receptor (CCR)4 is selectively expressed on Th2-type T cells and has been shown to be responsible for Th2-dominant immune responses. In this study, we analyzed the expression of CCR4 in active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients by FACS analysis using anti-human CCR4 monoclonal antibody and determined the clinical relevance in this disease. Higher expression of CCR4 was found on peripheral blood CD4+ T lymphocytes of active SLE patients than was found with healthy controls and inactive SLE patients. The CCR4 expression significantly correlated with the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) scores. The expression was dramatically decreased after the corticosteroid therapy in parallel with a serum level of double-stranded DNA antibody and SLEDAI scores. Moreover, we found that serum levels of IL-10 were increased in active SLE patients and significantly correlated with the CCR4 expression. This study suggests that Th2 immune response is predominant in the active state of SLE, and CCR4 may have relevance in regard to the disease course in SLE patients.     

CTLA4 polymorphism in Spanish patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

The cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4, CD152) gene is a positional and functional candidate gene to susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) because CTLA4 gene maps in the described SLE risk region 2q33 and CTLA4 molecule has an inhibitory effect on T-cell activation. Several polymorphisms have been described in CTLA4 gene, among them, a T/C change at position -1722, a C/T transition at position -319, and another A/G transition at position +49. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association of these polymorphisms with the susceptibility to SLE in 276 Spanish autochthonous patients using a healthy control group composed of 194 ethnically matched volunteer bone marrow donors. Genotyping of these CTLA4 positions was performed in SLE patients and controls using a polymerase chain reaction amplification refractory mutation system. The genotypic frequencies were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in all patients. No differences in the distribution of the genotype frequencies between patients and controls were found in any case. Our results from the Spanish autochthonous population differ from those found in the Korean population regarding the involvement of the polymorphism located at -1722 in the susceptibility to SLE.     

Mitochondrial dysfunction in T cells of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Activation, proliferation, or programmed cell death of T lymphocytes are dependent on controlled reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) production and ATP synthesis in mitochondria. The mitochondrial transmembrane potential (Delta Psi(m)) also plays a decisive role in cell survival by controlling activity of redox-sensitive caspases. T lymphocytes of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) exhibit mitochondrial hyperpolarization, increased ROI production, diminished intracellular glutathione levels, cytoplasmic alkalinization, and ATP depletion that mediate enhanced spontaneous and diminished activation-induced apoptosis and sensitize lupus T cells to necrosis. These redox and metabolic checkpoints represent novel targets for pharmacological intervention in SLE.     

Quantification of regulatory T cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

CD4+ T cells that constitutively express CD25 exhibit powerful suppressive properties. Such cells have been denominated regulatory T cells (T(R)). Alterations in T(R)cells are known to cause organ-specific autoimmune disease in animal models. The aim of this work was to quantify CD4+CD25+ T cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Thirty untreated patients (ten with active disease) and ten healthy volunteers were studied. Flow cytometry was used to quantify cell populations. CD4+CD69+, CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25(bright) cells were considered. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures were performed and supernatants collected for IL-10 and 12 measurement. CD4+CD25+ cells were significantly decreased in patients with active disease when compared to control subjects and patients without disease activity (P<0.001). CD4+CD69+ cells were increased in patients with active disease when compared to controls (P=0.041). Accordingly, CD4+CD25(bright) cells were decreased in patients with active disease compared to healthy subjects (P<0.001). IL-12 production was hampered in cells from patients during periods of active disease when compared to healthy controls and patients during remission (P<0.001). We observed a correlation between decreased T(R)number and reduced IL-12 mononuclear cell production (r=0.362, P=0.05). This work demonstrates that CD4+CD25+ T cells are decreased in patients with clinically active SLE.     

初发系统性红斑狼疮患者调节性T细胞的变化

目的 探讨初发系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)患者CD4 T细胞中FOXP3和CD25的表达及其临床意义.方法 应用流式细胞仪检测CD4 FOXP3 、CD4 CD25 、CD4 CD25high T细胞表达,同时检测CD4 FOXP3 T细胞中CD25及CD4 CD25highT细胞中FOXP3的表达.结果 活动组SLE患者CD4 CD25 T细胞显著低于对照组和低活动组(P＜0.05).活动组患者CD4 CD25highT细胞明显低于低活动组患者(P＜0.01).初发SLE患者CD4 FOXP3 T细胞明显高于对照组(P＜0.01).活动组SLE患者CD4 FOXP3 T细胞中CD25表达显著低于对照组和低活动组(P＜0.05).同时活动组SLE患者CD4 CD25highT细胞中FOXP3表达的平均荧光强度较对照组显著降低(P＜0.05).活动组患者治疗后CD4 CD25highT细胞显著增高(P＜0.05).结论 初发活动期SLE患者CD4 T细胞中CD25high和FOXP3表达不一致可能在SLE患者免疫失衡中发挥作用.