title: The effect of intravenous cyclophosphamide pulse on peripheral blood lymphocytes in lupus erythematosus patients.
abstract: In the present study we investigated the long-term effect of intravenous pulse cyclophosphamide (CY) on lymphocyte surface antigens in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Blood samples derived from 17 lupus erythematosus patients were analysed using two- and three-colour flow cytometry. During the CY therapy, the total number of T lymphocytes (CD3+) was reduced by 31.4%, B lymphocytes (CD19+) by 67.4% and NK cells (CD16+) by 27.4%. Six months after the end of the CY regimen, these values recovered to entry levels. At the onset of the study we observed increased percentages of CD3+ CD25+, CD3+ CD4- CD8-, CD4+ CD29+, CD19+ and CD19+ CD5+ cells. The CY treatment regimen decreased the CD3+ CD25+, CD3+ CD4- CD8-, CD19+ and CD19+ CD5+ cells, but increased the CD3+ CD8+ subpopulation. Taken together, a deficiency of CD8+ T cells associated with CD4+ CD29+ predominance may imply an immune regulatory imbalance leading to abnormal CD4+ cell activation and in consequence to autoimmunity. Depletion of CD19+ cells combined with an enlargement of CD8 cells as a result of CY therapy may reduce the enhanced immune response in SLE patients.
authors.affiliation: Hochrhein Institute for Rheumatism Research and Prevention, Bad-Säckingen, Germany/Rheinfeld, Switzerland.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lacki
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Mackiewicz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leszczynski
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide