Increased expression of membrane TNF-alpha on activated peripheral CD8+ T cells in systemic lupus erythematosus.
Membrane TNF-alpha is a precursor form of soluble TNF-alpha and exerts pro-inflammatory functions in a cell-to-cell contact manner. We showed that membrane TNF-alpha is induced upon activation on the cell surface of CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells. In patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the percentage of membrane TNF-alpha-bearing CD8+ T cells (41.5+/-12.3%) was significantly higher compared with those of healthy controls (26.7+/-3.9%) (p=0.007) or patients with rheumatoid arthritis (29.8+/-15.4%) (p=0.038). Membrane TNF-alpha-bearing CD8+ T cells from SLE patients displayed cytotoxic activity against L929 cells. It is possible that membrane TNF-alpha may be involved in the increased apoptosis and the generation of autoantigens in SLE.
Horiuchi
Takahiko
T
Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan. horiuchi@intmed1.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Morita
Chika
C
Tsukamoto
Hiroshi
H
Mitoma
Hiroki
H
Sawabe
Takuya
T
Harashima
Shin-ichi
S
Kashiwagi
Yoichiro
Y
Okamura
Seiichi
S
D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology
D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha