[Role of Fas-FasL and caspase-3 signal transduction pathway in promoting apoptosis of T lymphocyte subset in SLE patients].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationship between Fas-FasL-mediated signal transduction pathway and apoptosis disorder of T lymphocyte subset in SLE patients.


METHODS
The expression rate of membrane Fas, FasL and that of intracellular activated caspase-3 of T lymphocyte subset were determined by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
Compared with healthy control group, the expression rate of membrane Fas on CD4(+) T cells significantly increased in SLE patients in the active and inactive phases (P<0.05), however, that on CD8(+) T cells slightly increased but there was no statistical significance (P>0.05). The expression rate of FasL on T cell subset in SLE patients in the active and inactive phases significantly increased (P<0.05) but there was no obvious difference of the expression rate of Fas and FasL on T cell subset between the two disease groups (P>0.05). The expression rate of intracellular activated caspase-3 in T cell subset of SLE patients in the active phase was notably higher than that in the inactive phase and healthy control group (P<0.05). The expression rate of intracellular activated caspase-3 in T cell subset of SLE patients in the inactive phase was slightly higher than that in health control group but there was no statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
Apoptotic speed of T lymphocyte subset in SLE patients was accelerated while CD4(+) T cells were in a state of active apoptosis. It is possible that Fas-FasL signal transduction pathway plays an important role in the induction of T cell apoptosis. The degree of apoptosis of T lymphocytes closely correlates with the disease's activity in SLE patients.
Chen
Xue
X
Clinical Immunological Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Huaxi Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Wang
Lan-lan
LL
Cai
Bei
B
Chen
Jie
J
Feng
Wei-hua
WH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism*
C491901:FAS protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D019014:fas Receptor; D053148:Caspase 3