title: The effects of freeze/thawing on the function and phenotype of CD4(+) lymphocyte subsets in normal individuals and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Several studies report on lymphocyte phenotypic and functional abnormalities in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Freezing and thawing may alter functional and phenotypic properties of cells. We assessed the effect of the freezing/thawing process (F/T) on Th1 (CD3(+)CD4(+)CCR4(-)CXCR3(+)CCR5(+)), Th2 (CD3(+)CD4(+)CCR5(-)CXCR3(-)CCR4(+)), Th17 (CD3(+)CD4(+)CCR6(+)CD161(+)), and Treg (CD3(+)CD4(+)CD25(high)CD127(-)) cell cultures in healthy controls and SLE patients. F/T was associated with decreased frequency of Th2 and Th17 cells in cultures from SLE patients but not from controls. F/T was also associated with increased frequency of apoptotic cells, as measured by annexin V labeling, in all T cell subtypes analyzed, as well as increased cell proliferation, as measured by Ki-67 labeling, in all cells except Th1 from SLE patients. Thus, F/T can have differentiated effects on T lymphocyte subtypes from SLE patients and controls, and can have significant effects on cell death and proliferation. These findings should be carefully considered when designing and interpreting studies on functional and phenotypic aspects of T lymphocytes in SLE.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vanessa da Silva
authors.initials: Vda S
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Vieira
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Mesquita
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Danilo Júnior
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Mesquita
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: luis.andrade@unifesp.br.
authors.forename: Luís Eduardo Coelho
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Andrade
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005260:Female; D005615:Freezing / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
keywords: Apoptosis; Cryopreservation; Systemic lupus erythematosus; T lymphocytes