title: Enhanced transcript levels of CD48 in CD4⁺ T cells from systemic lupus erythematosus patients.
abstract: It is known that CD48 regulates T-cell activation. We evaluated the transcriptional expression of CD48 in CD4⁺ T cells from 30 SLE patients and 30 healthy controls. CD48 mRNA levels were considerably higher in the patients group: 1.80 ± 1.41 versus 1.10 ± 0.50 (p=0.023). An inverse correlation was obtained with respect to CD48 mRNA levels and age in the control group (r= -0.478, p=0.007). None association was found between CD48 mRNA expression and levels of anti-dsDNA, complement, or lymphocyte counts. Alternatively, a statistically significant positive correlation was observed between CD48 transcript levels and SLEDAI values (r=0.372, p=0.042). The higher CD48 mRNA levels observed in CD4⁺ T cells from SLE patients and the positive correlation found with SLEDAI lead us to infer that an overexpression of the protein coded by this gene may have important consequences on the development of SLE.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit in Systemic Autoimmune Diseases, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain. ebalada@ir.vhebron.net
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Balada
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Castro-Marrero
authors.forename: Anna Pedrosa
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Pujol
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Torres-Salido
authors.forename: Miquel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vilardell-Tarrés
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ordi-Ros
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071178:CD48 Antigen; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000071178:CD48 Antigen; C000604065:CD48 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger