Increased circulating HLA-DR+ CD4+ T cells in systemic lupus erythematosus: alterations associated with prednisolone therapy.
Patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the circulation have a selective increase of a subset of the CD4+ helper/inducer T cells bearing HLA-DR+, major histocompatibility complex class II antigens. We studied prednisolone-induced alterations of HLA-DR+, CD4+, and CD8+ T-cell subsets in three patients with active SLE. Prednisolone therapy was accompanied by a drastic reduction in circulating HLA-DR+, CD4+ T-cell subsets, serum anti-DNA titre, normalization of the serum immunoglobulin profile, and CD4+ T-cell responses to phytohaemagglutinin and concanavalin A. These changes in immune functions were associated with eventual improvement in the clinical condition of active SLE. A low percentage of HLA-DR+, CD8+ T-cell subsets was present in the circulation, which was not changed by prednisolone therapy. These results suggest that HLA-DR+, CD4+ T-cell subsets play a major role in the pathogenesis of active SLE, and that prednisolone-induced immunosuppression in this disease is mediated by changes in the HLA-DR+, CD4+ T-cell subsets in circulating blood.
Raziuddin
S
S
Department of Clinical Immunology, King Saud University, College of Medicine, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
Nur
M A
MA
al-Wabel
A A
AA
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D002469:Cell Separation; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011239:Prednisolone