Premium
Increased Circulating HLA‐DR + CD4 + T Cells in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Alterations Associated with Prednisolone Therapy
Author(s) -
RAZIUDDIN S.,
NUR M. A.,
ALWABEL A. A.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.934
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3083
pISSN - 0300-9475
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3083.1990.tb02753.x
Subject(s) - prednisolone , immunology , cd8 , t cell , medicine , phytohaemagglutinin , human leukocyte antigen , antigen , immune system
Patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the circulation have a selective increase of a subset of the CD4 + helper/inducer T cells bearing HLA‐DR + , major histocompatibility complex class II antigens. We studied prednisolone‐induced alterations of HLA‐DR + , CD4 + , and CD8 + T‐cell subsets in three patients with active SLE. Prednisolone therapy was accompanied by a drastic reduction in circulating HLA‐DR + , CD4 + T‐cell subsets, serum anti‐DNAtitre, normalization of the serum immunoglobulin profile, and CD4 + T‐cell responses to phytohaemagglutinin and concanavalin A. These changes in immune functions were associated with eventual improvement in the clinical condition of active SLE. A low precentage of HLA‐DR + , CD8 + T‐cell subsets was present in the circulation, which was not changed by prednisolone therapy. These results suggest that HLA‐DR + , CD4 + T‐cell subsets play a major role in the pathogenesis of active SLE, and that prednisolone‐induced immunosuppression in this disease is mediated by changes in the HLA‐DR + , CD4 + T‐cell subsets in circulating blood.