Expression and significance of CD_(69) on peripheral CD4~+, CD8~+ T-cell in infants with rheumatoid arthritis

Objective To determine the expression level of CD69 on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood from children with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and investigate their role in the pathogenesis of RA. Methods Peripheral blood was taken from 32 infants with RA and 30 healthy controls. Expression of CD69 on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was detected on a flow cytometry. Results Expression of CD25 and CD69 was significantly increased on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood of RA children, as compared with that in healthy controls (P0.05). Importantly, the expression of CD69 expression on peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was markedly decreased after receiving effective treatment (P0.05). Conclusion The expression level of CD69 is significantly increased in peripheral blood T cells from RA children, suggesting that activated T cells may play a pathogenic role in the induction of immune response.