title: A possible role of apoptosis for regulating autoreactive responses in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: It has been reported that apoptotic cells are increased in the peripheral blood from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), where dysfunctions of T helper 1 (Th1) cells are known. In order to study whether apoptosis of Th1 cells is associated with the pathogenesis of SLE, early apoptotic cells in various T-cell subsets were detected using fluorescence-labeled annexin V (AnV). AnV binding was most frequently observed in CD4+CCR5+ T cells, and AnV binding rate (%) in this subset was higher in SLE than in normal controls (14.7 +/- 2.6), although that in active SLE (43.6 +/- 7.3) tended to be lower than that in inactive SLE (48.0 +/- 6.8). CD95/Fas expression was also increased in both active and inactive SLE. In some SLE patients, AnV binding rate changed in inverse proportion to titer of the serum anti-DNA antibody and in proportion to serum complement activity. These data suggest that apoptosis in Th1 cells is important in the pathogenesis of SLE and might play a role in regulating over-activation or autoreactive responses by T cells.
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka, Japan. funauchi@med.kindai.ac.jp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Funauchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: SukYoo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ikoma
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohno
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanamaru
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology