Clinical significance of increased CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells in patients with new-onset systemic lupus erythematosus.

摘要

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expressions of Foxp3 and CD25 on CD4(+) T cells from patients with new-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and assess their clinical significance. METHODS: 10 patients with active (systemic lupus erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) >or=10) and 11 with inactive (SLEDAI 0.05). Moreover, the suppressive capacity of CD4(+)CD25(+)T cells in patients with new-onset lupus was not impaired as measured by the ability to inhibit proliferation of CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells. Interestingly, CD4(+)CD25(-)Foxp3(+ )T cells in new-onset lupus (2.97-10.94%) were significantly more frequent than in normal controls (1.01-3.62%) (p<0.01), and correlated positively with the titres of anti-dsDNA antibodies (p = 0.029). Few of these cells expressed CD127. Treatment with glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide reduced CD4(+)CD25(-)Foxp3(+) T cells in 8 of 10 patients with active disease. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant increase in CD4(+)CD25(-)Foxp3(+)T cells in patients with new-onset SLE that correlated with anti-dsDNA titres, whereas no alteration in either the percentage or function of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+)T cells was observed.