Increased Fas and Bcl-2 expression on peripheral mononuclear cells from patients with active juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus.
OBJECTIVE
To determine expressions of Fas and Bcl-2 on peripheral blood T and B lymphocytes from patients with juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE).


METHODS
Thirty-eight patients with JSLE and 21 healthy controls were studied. Eleven JSLE patients with SLEDAI score >or= 8 were categorized as active. Freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stained for lymphocyte markers CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD19 and for Fas and Bcl-2 molecules. Cell protein expression was measured by 3-color flow cytometry.


RESULTS
Percentages of lymphocytes positively stained for Fas antigen and cytoplasmic expression of Bcl-2 measured by mean fluorescence intensity from patients were significantly increased compared to controls on CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells. Patients with active disease had higher percentages of CD19+ B cells positive for Fas antigen compared to patients with inactive lupus. A direct statistical correlation was observed between Fas and Bcl-2 expression on CD19+ B cells and SLE Disease Activity Index score.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with juvenile-onset SLE show upregulation of apoptosis-related proteins. Patients with active and inactive disease have a different profile of Fas and Bcl-2 expression.
Liphaus
Bernadete Lourdes
BL
Children's Institute, Department of Pediatrics, and Department of Rheumatology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. bernadll@icr.hcnet.usp.br
Kiss
Maria Helena Bittencourt
MH
Carrasco
Solange
S
Goldenstein-Schainberg
Claudia
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D002469:Cell Separation; D002648:Child; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D019014:fas Receptor