Assay Of T And NK Cell Subsets And The Expression Of NKG2A And NKG2A In Patients With SLE

Objective To study the relations between T cell subsets, NK cell subsets , expression of NKG2A/NKG2D on CD3+T cells and CD3-CD56+NK cells and the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and explore clinical significance of these cell subsets.Methods Flow cytometry (FCM) was applied to detect T cell subsets, NK cell subsets ,expression of NKG2A/NKG2D on CD3+T cells and CD3-CD56+NK cells. Patients'conditions, major clinical characteristics, laboratory indice were collected by self-designed questionnaire containing the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI).Results The rates of CD4+/CD8+T cell, CD4+T, CD4+CD25+T, CD3+CD56+NKT, CD3-CD56+CD16+NK cell subsets were significantly decreased, CD8+T cell subsets were significantly increased in patients with first occurrence SLE, compared to healthy controls. As to the relative amount, CD3+T and CD8+T cell subsets, CD8+T and CD3+CD56+NKT cell subsets, CD3-CD56+CD16-NK and CD3-CD56+CD16+NK cell subsets had positive correlation. CD4+T and CD8+T cell subsets, CD3+T and CD3-CD56+CD16-NK cell subsets had negative correlation. CD8+T cell subset was significantly increased in patients with vasculitis and CD3-CD56+CD16+NK was increased in patients with arthritis. CD3+CD56+NKT cell subset was significantly decreased in patients with thrombocytopenia and CD4+T was increased in patients with abnormal ESR. As to the absolute number, there were positive correlations among CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+T cell subsets, as well as three kinds of NK cell subsets. Meanwhile, CD4+CD25+T with CD3+T, CD4+T, CD8+T, CD3+CD56+NKT, CD3-CD56+CD16+NK cell subsets, CD3+CD56+NKT with CD3+T, CD8+T cell subsets,CD3-CD56+CD16-NK and CD4+T cell subsets,CD3-CD56-CD16+NK with CD3+ and CD4+ T cell subsets also had positive correlations. CD8+T cell subset was significantly increased in patients with vasculitis. CD3+T, CD4+T, CD8+T and CD4+CD25+T cell subsets were significantly decreased in patients with leukopenia. Patients with SLE had a higher expression of NKG2D and a lower expression of NKG2A on CD3+T cells, however they had a lower expression of NKG2D and a higher expression of NKG2A on CD3-CD56+NK cells ,compared to healthy controls.Conclusion T cell subsets, NK cell subsets, expression of NKG2A/NKG2D on CD3+T cells and CD3-CD56+NK cells are related to the development of SLE.