The Expression Of CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^low/-T Cells In Patients With Active Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Objective To proceed a comparison study of the exspress of regulation T cells(Treg cells)'s new surface marker CD127 and CD25,FOXP3 in CD4+T cells of patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus,in order to revel the role of Treg cells in the pathogenesis of SLE.Methods 29 newly diagnosed active SLE patients(man 3,woman 26,age range 14-64 yr,mean age 34±13,with a disease duration 2mo-5yr)which meet the diagnose criteria of American College of Rheumatology(ACR)about SLE were studied.AS controls,24 healthy volunteers (man 5,woman 18,age range 20-51yr,mean age 29±8) were also tested.All the patients had not taken immunosuppression or glucocorticoid in 2 weeks before drawing blood.Peripheral blood CD4+CD25+CD127low/-T cells,CD4+CD25highT cells and CD4+CD25+FOXP3+T cells in 29 SLE patients and 24 healthy volunteers were analyzed by 3-color flow cytometry.Levels of anti-dsDNA , immunoglobulin and complement et al were also measured.Results In comparison to control group,the blood CD4+CD25+CD127low/-T cells in patients with SLE don't showed a significant increase(P>0.05),But the level of CD4+CD25highT cells and CD4+CD25+FOXP3+T cells in SLE patients was obviously lower than that of control group(P<0.001);But the ratio of three group cells to CD4+CD25+T cells was obviously lower than that of control group(P<0.001);CD4+CD25+CD127low/-T cells showed significant positive correlation with CD4+CD25+FOXP3+T cells and CD4+CD25highT cells from SLE patients(r=0.780,p= <0.001;r=0.406,p<0.01),CD4+CD25+CD127low/-T cells also have positive correlation with CD4+CD25+CD127low/-FOXP3+Tcells (r=0.957 , p=0.003 );CD4+CD25+FOXP3+T cells also have positive correlation with CD4+CD25highT cells(r=0.867,p<0.001).CD4+CD25+CD127low/-T cells,CD4+CD25+FOXP3+T cells,CD4+CD25highT cells and its ratio to CD4+CD25+T cells have no correlation with age,sex,course,IgG,IgA,IgM,Urine protein,TIPU,anti-dsDNA,anti-SSA,anti-SSB,anti-RNP,anti-Sm,anti-C1q,anti-nuclear body antibody(P>0.05).But they were significant associated negatively with SLEDAI(p<0.05).Only the CD4+CD25+CD127low/-T cells/ CD4+CD25+T cells have negative correlation with C4(P<0.001).The ratio of CD127low/-T cells or FOXP3+T cells to CD4+CD25+T cells in a SLE patient have a obviously increase After the therapy of glucocorticoid.Conclusion As a result,CD4+CD25+CD127low/-T cells showed significant positive correlation with CD4+CD25+FOXP3+T cells,CD4+CD25highT cells and CD4+CD25+CD127low/- FOXP3+T cells;The ratio of Treg to the activated CD4+ cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE.