Increased prevalence of activated CD70+CD4+ T cells in the periphery of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by loss of immune tolerance. A hallmark of SLE is the presence of autoantibodies resulting from B cell hyperactivity. Previous studies have shown that the presence of abnormal B cell subsets in the periphery, such as CD27highCD20- B cells, correlate with disease activity. We examined the relationship between the expression of CD70, the ligand for CD27 expressed by activated T cells, and indicators of disease activity. A significant increase in median CD70+CD4+ T cell frequencies and memory CD45RA-CD4+ T cell frequencies was observed in SLE samples as compared to healthy controls. The frequencies of CD70+CD4+ T cells correlated with disease duration but not age, treatment, or disease activity. Although a majority of CD70+CD4+ T cells appeared to be effector memory cells, mitogen-stimulated CD70+CD4+ T cells were capable of secreting a full repertoire of effector cytokines. Despite the presence of activated CD4+ T cells, no increase in immunosenescent CD4+ T cells, as defined by the loss of CD28 and/or the acquisition of CD57 was observed in samples from SLE patients. These studies indicate that increased CD70 expression might serve as a useful marker of abnormal T cell activity in SLE.
Han
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BK
Harold C. Simmons Arthritis Research Center, Division of Rheumatic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-8884, USA.
White
A M
AM
Dao
K H
KH
Karp
D R
DR
Wakeland
E K
EK
Davis
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LS
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D053282:CD27 Ligand; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000378:metabolism*; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D053282:CD27 Ligand; C505771:CD70 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens