Expression of CD28 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective To investigate the level of CD28 expression in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its significance.Method Applying reverse transcription polymerase reaction (RT PCR) technique to semiquantitatively analyze CD28 mRNA expression in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 34 active SLE patients and 30 healthy subjects.Results The positive rate of CD28 expression in active SLE patients accounted for 20 6%,which was markedly lower than the normal controls (70 0%),the difference was statistically significant ( P 0 001).Compared with normal controls,the mean level of CD28 mRNA expression in active SLE group was decreased as well ( P 0 05).Conclusion The abnormal expression of CD28 may play a pathological role in the development of SLE.The lower expression of CD28 mRNA may contribute to the increased apoptosis of CD28 + T cells or the selective migration of these cells to sites of autoimmune injury in SLE patients.