title: Decreased IL-4 producing CD4+ T cells in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus-relation to IL-12R expression.
abstract: The balance of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and/or interleukin-4 (IL-4) producing T cells and interleukin-12 receptor (IL-12R) expression on T cells were evaluated in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Assessment of intracellular IFN-gamma and/or IL-4 were conducted with cytoplasmic staining. IL-12R presenting T cells were also assessed by flowcytometry without in vitro stimulation. In SLE, the number of IFN-gamma producing CD4+ T cells was increased, and the absolute number of IL-4 producing CD4+ T cells was significantly decreased. Although the ratio of IL-12R presenting CD4+ T cells was significantly greater, the absolute number did not increase. The ratio of IFN-gamma/IL-4-producing CD4+ T cells correlated with the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) and was significantly higher among patients with lupus nephritis. Therefore, the imbalance of IFN-gamma/IL-4 producing CD4+ T cells was due to the decrease in IL-4 producing CD4+ T cells and may play an important pathogenic role in active SLE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Internal Medicine, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nozawa
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tokano
authors.forename: Yoshinari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takasaki
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007700:Kinetics; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D053707:Receptors, Interleukin-12; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D053707:Receptors, Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4