title: [The expression of CD73 in CD4+ regulatory T cells in patients with new-onset systemic lupus erythematosus].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the level of CD(73) expression in CD(4)(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and explore its role in the pathogenesis of SLE.
  
  
  METHODS
  We selected 29 untreated/active SLE patients and 22 healthy controls. Frequencies of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) CD(73)(+) T cells and levels of FOXP3 protein expressed in CD(4)(+)CD(73)(+), CD(4)(+)CD(25)(hi), CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) T cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Meanwhile, the levels of SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), C reactive protein (CRP), ESR, immunoglobulin and complement were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percent of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) CD(73)(+) T cells was decreased in new-onset SLE compared with healthy controls [(1.25 ± 1.32)% vs (2.35 ± 1.09)%, P < 0.01], and it had no correlation with the levels of SLEDAI, CRP, ESR, et al and anti-C(1q) and anti-nucleosome antibodies (P > 0.05 for each). Both in groups of new-onset SLE and healthy controls, CD(73) level expressed in CD(4)(+)CD(25)(hi) T cells [(29.05 ± 12.53)%, (43.35 ± 10.09)%] was higher than that expressed in CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) T cells [(17.48 ± 6.92)%, (29.98 ± 10.39)%, P < 0.01]. In both SLE patients and healthy controls, levels of FOXP3 protein expressed in CD(4)(+)CD(73)(+) T cells [(65.36 ± 14.40)%, (63.80 ± 14.05)%] and CD(4)(+)CD(25)(hi) T cells [(67.30 ± 13.04)%, (56.30 ± 9.21)%] were higher than those in CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) T cells [(45.70 ± 12.74)%, (43.98 ± 5.17)%, P < 0.001], while it had no significant difference between the CD(4)(+)CD(25)(hi) and CD(4)(+)CD(73)(+) T cells (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate that CD(73) may be a new surface marker of regulatory T cells, and the abnormal expression of CD(73) in Treg cells may participate in the pathogenesis of SLE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Anhui Medical University Affiliated Provincial Hospital, Hefei 230001, China.
authors.forename: Dong-mei
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiang-pei
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jiang-huai
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shu-rong
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Bei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiao-feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D015720:5'-Nucleotidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D015720:5'-Nucleotidase; C548241:NT5E protein, human