The Expression Of Tissue-resident Memory T Cell And Its Relationship With Skin Lesions In Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Objective To investigate the relationship of skin-resident memory T cells(Trm cells)with the skin lesions in Systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)patients so as to deepen our understanding of the pathogenesis of skin lesions in SLE.Methods Peripheral blood and skin samples were collected from 20 untreated SLE patients(female: male=18:2)and 10 matched healthy volunteers(female: male=9:1).The percentages of effector memory T cells(Tem cells)and effcctor T cells(Teff cells)from peripheral blood were analyzed by flow cytometry;By using direct immuneofluoresence,we detected the presence of immune complex,which is deposited on the basement membrane zone of normal appearance skin from SLE patients or healthy individuals;With the aid of imunohistochemical staining,we detected the characteristic surface markers of tissue-resident memory T lymphocytes,namely CD103 and to analyze the expression of these T lymphocytes within skins from SLE patients or healthy volunteers.Results(1)As compared with control individuals,the proportions of CD4+Tem(12.56±3.40 vs.8.19 ± 2.53,p=0.004)? CD4+Teff(2.54 ± 1.52 vs.1.34 ± 0.82,p=0.029)?CD8+Tem(15.31±3.62 vs.7.05±2.99,p=0.000)and CD8+Teff cells(13.11±5.38 vs.3.73±1.33,p=0.000)in T cell subset were significantly increased;(2)The proportions of CD4+Tem(8.42 ± 2.67 vs.5.81 ± 1.97,p=0.011)?CD4+Teff(1.55±0.96 vs.0.79±0.51,p=0.008)?CD8+Tem(10.36±3.60 vs.5.27±2.39,p=0.000)and CD8+Teff cells(8.16±4.10 vs.2.56±0.80,p=0.000)in peripheral blood were increased as well;(3)By direct immunofluorescence,we noticed the presence of Ig A ? Ig M and complement C3 on the basement membrane zone of skins from SLE patients but not on healthy individuals;(4)The amount of infiltrated lymphocytes in skin samples from SLE patients were significantly increased compared to that of healthy individuals,and the quantities of CD4,CD8 and CD103 positive T cells from SLE skin samples were all increased by various degrees than that of healthy controls.Conclusion The expressions of precursor cells of Tissue-resident memory T cells were significantly increased than that of healthy volunteers,and the infiltration of Trm cells in the skin lesions were increased than healthy controls.Skin-resident memory T cells may involve in the pathogenesis of skin lesions in SLE.