Analysis of the CD161-expressing cell quantities and CD161 expression levels in peripheral blood natural killer and T cells of systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Human Tγσ lymphocytes constitute from 1 to 15% of all peripheral blood lymphocytes. Recent work has demonstrated that this population plays a major role in the pathogenesis of infectious and immune diseases. Increased numbers of γσ T cells have been found in affected skin from systemic sclerosis and chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus patients.In our study, we have determined the numbers of Tγσ lymphocytes and their subpopulations in peripheral blood from 29 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and in 19 healthy volunteers using flow cytometry and specific monoclonal antibodies. The same cells in uninvolved skin from SLE patients and human controls using immunohistochemical analysis were estimated. T-Cell receptor (TCR) delta chain gene rearrangement was identified with primers for Vσ1, Vσ2 and Vσ3 by the polymerase chain reaction. Statistical analysis showed a significantly decreased number of γσ T cells in SLE patients (26.4 Ī 16.9/μl) compared with the control group (55.3 Ī 20.6/μl) (p<0.001). The number of Vσ2 TCR+ and Vγ9 TCR+ subpopulations was also lower in SLE patients than in healthy persons. No statistical correlation between disease activity and the number of γσ T cells was demonstrated. The percentage of T γσ lymphocytes in clinically normal skin from SLE patients was twice (22.0 Ī 9.4%) that found in the skin from healthy persons (11.1 Ī 5.5%) (p<0.002). Higher percentages of the Vσ2 TCR+ and Vγ9 TCR+ subpopulation of lymphocytes were found in the skin from SLE patients. We have also found positive correlation between the percentage of Tγσ lymphocytes in skin and the activity of SLE (r=0.594, p<0.001), and between subpopulation Vσ3 TCR+ and disease activity (r=0.659, p<0.001). In conclusion, the results of our studies demonstrate that, in patients with SLE, accumulation of Tγσ lymphocytes can be seen in clinically normal skin, and the percentage of these cells correlates with the activity of the disease.

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Regulatory T-cell levels in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: a meta-analysis

Lupus ◽

10.1177/0961203319828530 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 28 (4) ◽

pp. 445-454 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Y Zhu ◽

Y Huang ◽

B Ming ◽

X Wu ◽

Y Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽

T Cells ◽

T Cell ◽

Regulatory T Cells ◽

Ethnic Groups ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Subgroup Analysis ◽

Peripheral Blood ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Systemic Lupus

Background The contribution of regulatory T-cells (Tregs) to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pathogenesis remains a matter of debate. The objective of this study was to quantify the association between peripheral blood Tregs and disease status in SLE patients. Method EMBASE and PubMed databases were searched using ‘systemic lupus erythematosus’ and ‘regulatory T-cells’ as relevant key terms. A meta-analysis of studies that examined the proportion of Tregs among peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and CD4+T-cells was performed using Stata software. Subgroup analysis was performed based on ethnic groups and Treg definition markers. Results The Treg/PBMC and Treg/CD4+T-cell ratios were significantly lower in SLE patients than in healthy controls (HCs), whereas patients with active and inactive SLE showed no difference in these indicators. A subgroup analysis indicated that Asian SLE patients had a substantially lower proportion of Tregs/PBMCs than HCs, but this difference was not seen for white and Latin American SLE patients. Patients defined by CD4+CD25+Foxp3+, CD4+CD25+ and CD4+Foxp3+ had a much lower Treg/PBMC ratio compared with HCs. Ethnic groups and choice of Treg definition markers had no influence on the proportion of Tregs/CD4+T-cells. Conclusion The proportion of Tregs among both PBMCs and CD4+T-cells was significantly decreased in SLE patients. Ethnic group and Treg definition markers may influence the proportion of Tregs among PBMCs. Further study of the correlation between SLE disease activity and the proportion of Tregs in peripheral blood is needed to determine the physiological role of this association.

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