Changes of T Cell Subsets in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Objective: To explore the clinical importance of T cell subsets in the pathogenesis, and the valuable as reference in evaluating conditions and instructing treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)thereof. Methods: Forty high active SLE patients, twenty-six low active SLE patients, fifteen stable SLE patients and thirty healthy controls were enrolled. The percentage of CD4+, CD8+ T cells and the ration of CD4+/CD8+ T cells were tested with flow cytometry in peripheral blood of SLE patients and controls. The clinical and immunological findings of all the SLE patients were recorded. Statistic analysis was made to explore the relationship between them. Results: There were differences between T cell subsets in peripheral blood of different active SLE patients and healthy controls. In active SLE patients, there was a negative correlation between the ration of CD4+/CD8+ T cells and SLEDAI score and urine protein. There was a positive correlation between the ration of CD4+/CD8+ T cells and C3. There were no significant differences between the percentage of CD4+, CD8+ T cells and the ration of CD4+/CD8+ T cells in active SLE patients treated with corticosteroids and immunodepressant for two weeks and before treatment, but SLEDAI score decreased. Conclusion: T cell subsets involved in the pathology and the conditions of SLE,but it may not be of valuable as reference to evaluate the therapeutical effect in the short term