Expression and significance of CD8~+CD28~- cells in peripheral blood patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Objectives To examine the ratio of peripheral blood CD8+CD28-T cells and explore the association with diseasestage and clinical manifestations. Methods The percentage of CD8+CD28-T cell in peripheral blood from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (25 in active stage and 26 in stable) and 30 normal individuals was detected by two-color flowcytometry. Results The percentage of peripheral blood CD8+CD28-T cells in patients with non-active disease was significantly increased compared to normal individuals. In the individnal patients studied longitudinally, the frequency of peripheral blood CD8+CD28-T cells in nonactive disease was slightly higher than that of patients in active disease. The ratio of peripheral blood CD8+CD28-T cell in flare patients was higher than that of untreated patients and normal individuals. The percentage of peripheral blood CD8+CD28-T cell in patients with normal serum immunoglobulin level was significantly higher than that of normal individuals. Conclusions The decrease of peripheral blood CD8+CD28-T cells in patients with SLE is related to disease stage and clinical manifestation and may play a role in the pathogenesis of SLE.