title: Relationship between T lymphocyte subsets and cortisol in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a complex chronic immunological disease characterized by increased B cell activity and altered T cell function.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate relationship between T lymphocyte subsets and cortisol with the disease activity of systemic lupus erythematosus patients in North India.
  
  
  METHODS
  The percentage of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in the lymphocyte of SLE patients and healthy controls were determined by flow cytometry. Serum cortisol of SLE patients and healthy controls was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant decrease in the percentage of CD4(+) T cells and increase in the percentage of CD8(+) T cells were found in patients with SLE compared to the healthy controls. Decrease in the ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) T cell and low level of serum cortisol were found in the patients with SLE. The ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) T cell was inversely correlated with systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) score and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). A positive correlation was observed between CD8(+) T cells and SLEDAI score. Furthermore, CD8(+) T cells were positively correlated with ESR in the patients with SLE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed that low level of cortisol and high percentage of CD8(+) T cells in the lymphocytes could be actively involved in the pathogenesis of SLE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Basic Medical Science Block, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kiran
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wanchu
authors.forename: Archana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhatnagar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D018450:Disease Progression; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone