Analysis of peripheral blood CD8~+ regulatory lymphocytes from the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective:To investigate the percentages of peripheral blood CD8+CD28-regulatory lymphocytes,CD8+CD28+ effector lymphocytes and the ratio of CD8+CD28-/CD8+CD28+ T cells in the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE),and to explore their clinical values.Methods:The peripheral blood CD8+CD28-,CD8+CD28+ and the ratio of CD8+CD28-/CD8+CD28+ T cells were measured by two antibody labeling flow cytometric analysis in 37 patients with SLE and 15 controls.The differences in SLEDAI,serum immunoglobulin,complement,kidney damage and the variance before and after hormonal therapy were also analyzed in SLE patients.Results:(1)Compared to controls,patients with non-active SLE had significantly higher percentage of peripheral blood CD8+CD28-T cells,while patients with high-active SLE got significantly decreased percentage of peripheral blood CD8+CD28+T cells.(2)SLEDAI was negatively correlated with peripheral blood CD8+CD28+ T cells(P 0.05)and positively correlated with the ratio of CD8+CD28-/CD8+CD28+ T cells(P 0.05).(3)The ratio of CD8+CD28-/CD8+CD28+ T cells was significantly higher in SLE patients with the decrease of complement or kidney damage.(4)After hormonal therapy for the 10 active SLE patients,the percentage of peripheral blood CD8+ T cells,the ratio of CD8+CD28-to CD8+CD28+ T cells were significantly increased.Conclusion:Changes of the percentage of CD8+ T subsets and the ratio of CD8+CD28-/CD8+CD28+ might be associated with the disorder of immune function of SLE patients.The increase of CD8+CD28-T cells might be associatied with the control of SLE.The ratio of CD8+CD28-/CD8+CD28+ T cells,which is associated with the decrease of complement and kidney damage,could be considered as a mark of pathogenic monitor for SLE.