Expression of CD28/CD152∶ CD80/CD86 on peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Objective To investigate the relationship between abnormal expression of costimulatory molecule CD28/CD152∶ CD80/CD86 on lymphocyte subpopulations and the immune dysfunction in patients with ankylosing spondylitis(AS). Methods The expression of costimulators CD28 /CD152∶ CD80/CD86 on lymphocyte subsets in patients with AS was determined by flow cytometry.The serum levels of IgG,IgA,IgM,C-reactive protein(CRP) and interleukin-6(IL-6) were determined by rate nephelometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results The CD3+ CD4+T cells and CD4+/CD8+ in AS patients significantly increased comparing with controls(P0.05),but the CD3+ CD8+T cells significantly decreased(P0.05).The CD28 expressed on CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells,the CD152 expressed on CD4+ T cells,CD80 and CD86 expressed on CD19+ B cells in AS patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls(P0.05);But CD152 expressed on CD8+ T cells significantly decreased(P0.05).The serum levels of IgG,IgA and CRP and IL-6 in AS patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls(P0.05).Conclusions The abnormal expression of CD28/ CD152∶ CD80/CD86 on peripheral blood lymphocytes may play an important role in immune dysfunction of AS patients.