Striking alteration of some populations of T/B cells in systemic lupus erythematosus: relationship to expression of CD62L or some chemokine receptors

Abstract

Recent studies have revealed new populations of T/B cells, including central/effector memory, follicular T cells and CXCR3+ or CXCR4+ B cells. In the present study, changes in these populations of CD4+ T cells were examined on the basis of the expression of CD62L, CCR7 and CXCR5 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in relation to CCL21 and CXCL10. Changes in CXCR3+, CXCR4+ and CXCR5+ B cells were also examined. CD62L and various chemokine receptors were examined by flow cytometry analysis using monoclonal antibodies, and CCL21 and CXCL10 were examined by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In patients with SLE, a decrease of naive T cells and an increase in the ratio of activated effector memory T cells were associated with an increase of CCL21 and CXCL10 in serum, although the correlation was not significant. An increase in the ratio of CXCR3+ B cells was also recognized. These results suggest that naive T cells are transferred to lymphoid tissue by CCL21, and that effector memory T cells are activated by CXCL10. It is also suggested that B cells responsive to follicular helper T cells tend to migrate to inflammatory tissue.