Characterization of CD3+CD4-CD8- (double negative) T cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: activation markers

• Published in: Lupus 2002-01, Vol.11 (8), p.493-500
• Main Authors: Anand, A, Dean, G S, Quereshi, K, Isenberg, D A, Lydyard, P M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abatacept; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antibodies; Antigens, CD - analysis; Antigens, Differentiation - analysis; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte - analysis; Antigens, Surface - analysis; Biomarkers - analysis; CD28 Antigens - analysis; CD3 Complex - analysis; CD4 Antigens - analysis; CD8 Antigens - analysis; CTLA-4 Antigen; Female; HLA-DR Antigens - analysis; Humans; Immunoconjugates; Immunology; Lectins, C-Type; Leukocyte Common Antigens - analysis; Lupus; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - diagnosis; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - immunology; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocytes; Male; Medicine; Middle Aged; Pathogenesis; Rheumatic diseases; Rheumatoid arthritis; Rheumatology; T cell receptors; T-Lymphocytes - chemistry; University colleges
• ISSN: 0961-2033; 1477-0962
• DOI: 10.1191/0961203302lu235oa

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by B cell hyperactivity and the production of autoantibodies, some of which (antibodies to dsDNA) are thought to be pathogenic. T helper cells drive the production of autoantibodies and the aim of this study is to characterize phenotypically a subpopulation of T cells (the CD3+CD4-CD8-, double negative (DN) T cells) previously identified as helping to enhance anti-DNA antibodies in patients with SLE. Data were obtained using FACS staining of DN T cells that had been purified from PBMCs by magnetic bead separation. The percentage of TCR ab‡ DN T cells was found to be significantly higher in patients with SLE as compared with controls (P ^ 0.02), although there was no significant increase in total percentage of DN T cells, which includes TCR gd ‡ cells. Activation markers HLA-DR and CD69, the costimulatory molecule CD28 and CTLA-4 were all expressed on the surface of a higher percentage of DN T cells in patients with SLE than in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or healthy controls (HC). More DN T cells from patients with SLE were of CD45RA phenotype than was found in controls, while CD45RO-expressing cells were reduced. In addition, DN T cells from patients with SLE expressed significantly higher levels of HLA-DR (P ^ 0.006), CD28 (P ^ 0.05), CTLA4 (P ^ 0.03) and CD45RA (P ^ 0.05) on the cell surface than those from the CD4=8 population. Correlation of expression of the markers measured with various parameters of disease activity and severity showed that high levels of HLA-DR expression correlated with high circulating serum C3 (> 0.9 IU/ml), indicating that an activated phenotype is consistent with severe disease.