Plasma Adiponectin Levels In Systemic Lupus Erythematosus And The Effects Of Adiponectin On The Differentiation Of Treg Cells

Objectives:To detect plasma Adiponectin (AD) levels for assessing their clinical significance and examine the effect of AD on the differentiation of T regulatory (Treg) cells.Methods:(1)The plasma samples were collected from60SLE patients and30healthy controls(HC). Plasma AD levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunoadsordent assay (ELISA). The correlation between plasma AD levels with clinical and laboratory parameters of SLE patients was investigated.(2) Cord blood samples were collected from healthy newborns. CD4+CD25"naive T cells were separated from mononuclear lymphocytes of cord blood samples by Magnetic separation. Cells were stimulated with plate-bound anti-CD3mAb, anti-CD28mAb, Interleukin2(IL-2) and transformation growth factor β1(TGF-β1), with or without recombinant AD(3μg/ml). After5days, the cells were examined by flow cytometry to determine the frequency of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+T cells and their apoptosis of cells.Results:(1)Plasma AD levels in SLE patients (36.89±5.91μg/ml) were significantly higher than those of healthy controls (28.51±5.95μg/ml),(P<0.001). Plasma AD levels were remarkably higher in high active than the low active group (38.15±6.24μg/ml vs34.66±5.20μg/ml),(P=0.028); Correlation coefficient analysis indicated that plasma AD levels were negatively correlated with white blood cell (WBC) counts, C3, C4and positively correlated with IgA (r=-0.293,-0.323,-0.259,0.359; P<0.05).But no obvious correlation was found with Systemic lupus Erythematosis Disease Activity index (SLEDAI), Platelets (PLT), Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), IgG and IgM.(2) The numbers of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg cells stimulated with AD were significantly lower than those in control group (54.77±7.03%vs69.81±5.57%),(P=0.013); while no difference in induced cell apoptosis was found between these two groups (P=0.26).Conclusion:AD levels were signicantly increased in SLE patients. Our results suggest a certain correlation of AD with SLE disease activity. Moreover, AD play a regulatory role in suppressing the differentiation of Treg, indicating that AD may play a role in the pathogenesis of SLE.