title: Vincristine-cyclophosphamide combination therapy positively affects T-cell subset distribution in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to analyze the T-cell subset distribution in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and determine whether vincristine-cyclophosphamide combination therapy can positively affect their T-cell subset distribution to keep the disease in remission.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen SLE patients with 'low activity' (SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI)≤9), 17 SLE patients with 'high activity' (SLEDAI>9), and 15 healthy controls were recruited. SLE patients were treated with vincristine-cyclophosphamide combination therapy. CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T-cell percentages were analyzed by flow cytometry at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 12-24 months, and >24 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly negative correlations were observed between the CD3+ and CD4+ T-cell percentages and SLEDAI scores at baseline (r=-0.471, P=0.015; r=-0.473, P=0.015, respectively). A significantly positive correlation was observed between CD4+ T-cell percentage and the complement component C3 at baseline (r=0.612, P=0.002). After 3 months of combination therapy, the CD3+ and CD4+ T-cell percentages were significantly higher than the high activity baseline (P<0.01, P<0.05, respectively). After 6 months, the CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T-cell percentages were all significantly higher than the high activity baseline (P<0.01, P<0.05, P<0.05, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  T-cell subset distributions vary across different levels of SLE disease activity with higher CD3+ T-cell and CD4+ Th cell percentages favoring lower SLE activity. As CD3+ T-cell and CD4+ Th cell percentages negatively correlate with SLEDAI, vincristine-cyclophosphamide combination therapy appears to positively affect the T-cell subset distribution in SLE patients to keep the disease in remission by increasing their CD3+ T-cell and CD4+ Th cell percentages.
authors: Department of Rheumatology, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China (mainland).
authors: Junwei
authors: J
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Rheumatology, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China (mainland).
authors: Lijuan
authors: L
authors: Ding
authors: Department of Rheumatology, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China (mainland).
authors: Wu
authors: W
authors: Meng
authors: Department of Rheumatology, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China (mainland).
authors: Jinhua
authors: J
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Rheumatology, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China (mainland).
authors: Chenglan
authors: C
authors: Yan
authors: Department of Rheumatology, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China (mainland).
authors: Jianfang
authors: J
authors: Xie
authors: Department of Rheumatology, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi, China (mainland).
authors: Luo
authors: L
authors: Jing
authors: Department of Rheumatology, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China (mainland).
authors: Xiaofeng
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: Department of Rheumatology, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China (mainland).
authors: Zili
authors: Z
authors: Fu
mesh_terms: D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014750:Vincristine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014750:Vincristine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide