Circulating CD4+ CD28 Null T Cells and CD4+ CD28+ T Lymphocytes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosis

Abstract
Background: Systemic Lupus Erythematosis (SLE) is a chronic multi factorial systemic autoimmune disease which affects multiple organs such as joints, the skin, kidneys or central nervous system. T cells may be a contributing factor in pathogenesis of SLE.
Aim of Study: The objective of this study was to evaluate senescent CD4+ CD28 null T lymphocytes and conventional CD4+ CD28+ T lymphocytes in SLE patients with and without nephritis.
Subjects and Methods: The study was conducted on 51 patients with SLE; 21 patients with nephritis and 30 patients without nephritis, in addition to 15 age and sex matched healthy individuals as control. The CD4/CD28 expression on peripheral blood lymphocytes was measured for all study subjects using flowcytometry technique.
Results: CD4+/CD28 null T-lymphocytes showed no statistically significant difference among the studied groups. Meanwhile, CD4+/CD28+ T lymphocytes were significantly higher SLE patients with nephritis than controls (p=0.009). There was significant positive correlation between CD4+/ CD28+ T lymphocyte population size and serum creatinine in SLE with nephritis (p=0.004).
Conclusion: CD4+/CD28+ T lymphocyte population was higher in SLE patients with nephritis than controls and show statistically significant changes in correlation with serum creatinine level.