Defective proliferative response of T lymphocytes from patients with inactive systemic lupus erythematosus
Hernández-Fuentes, M.P.; Reyes, E.; Prieto, A.; Zea, A.; Villa, L.; Sánchez-Atrio, A.; Esquivel, F.; Alvarez-Mon, M.
Journal of Rheumatology 26(7): 1518-1526
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0315-162X PMID: 10405939 Document Number: 500836
Objective. To further define the pattern of alterations in the activation and apoptosis of T lymphocytes in patients with inactive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) through analysis of a large series of individuals. Methods. We isolated CD2+ peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from 41 patients with inactive SLE and analyzed their proliferative and apoptotic responses to polyclonal activation. Results. In 19 of 41 (47%) patients, a low proliferative response to polyclonal mitogens was found. This defective response was inversely associated with an increased apoptotic response and increased expression of CD95 and CD45RO antigens. Conclusion. We found that 2 groups of patients with inactive disease can be defined according to the functional behavior of their T lymphocytes, as defined by the proliferative and apoptotic responses to mitogenic signals.