Decreased numbers of signal-joint T cell receptor excision circle-containing CD4+ and CD8+ cells in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients have a decreased number of peripheral blood T cells containing signal-joint T cell receptor excision circles (Sj TRECs), which are considered an indicator of thymic output. The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanism of the decrease in such T cells. Peripheral blood T cells from SLE patients were classified into CD4+ and CD8+ cells. Sj TREC levels were measured by real-time PCR. Telomerase activity was determined by the telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay. The numbers of Sj TREC containing CD4+ and CD8+ cells were lower in the peripheral blood of SLE patients than in the controls. A correlation was found between the numbers of Sj TREC-positive CD4+ and CD8+ cells. The level of TRECs is influenced by an increase in cell division. To examine this increase, telomerase activity as an indicator of cell division was measured simultaneously; however, there was no correlation between the Sj TREC level and telomerase activity. These results suggest that decreased thymic output occurs in SLE patients.
Kurosaka
Daitaro
D
Division of Rhuematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8 Nishishinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8461, Japan. d_kurosaka@jikei.ac.jp
Yasuda
Jun
J
Ikeshima-Kataoka
Hiroko
H
Ozawa
Yoshinori
Y
Yoshida
Ken
K
Yasuda
Chiho
C
Kingetsu
Isamu
I
Saito
Saburo
S
Yamada
Akio
A
D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D019098:Telomerase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000503:physiopathology
D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D019098:Telomerase