ABSTRACT
Introduction: Regulatory T cells’ (Tregs’) role remains unclear in the pathogenesis ofsystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study was aimed at monitoring the percentage of Tregswithin 32 weeks and monitoring its relationship with the percentage of other T helper (Th) cellsubsets and the levels of autoantibodies and pro-inflammatory cytokines in a murine SLE modelinduced by pristane.Methods: Forty-eight female BALB/c mice were divided into a healthy control (HC) and apristine-induced (PI) group. SLE was induced by a single 0.5 cc pristane intraperitoneal injection.Six from each group were sacrificed every eight weeks until 32 weeks post-pristane injection. Treg,Th1, Th2 and Th17 percentages from the spleen were measured using flowcytometry. ANA, IL-6 andIFN-α levels were measured from serum using ELISA.Results: The Treg percentage from the PI group increased significantly at 16 weekscompared to the HC group, while Th1, Th2 and Th17 percentages decreased. Tregs in the PIgroup began to reduce from the 24th to 32nd weeks, followed by an elevation of the Th1, Th2and Th17 percentages. Tregs were negatively correlated with Th1 and Th2. Tregs in the PI grouphad a negative correlation with ANA and IFN-α levels from serum, whereas Tregs had a positivecorrelation with IL-6 levels.Conclusion: The compensation of Tregs observed at 16 weeks after pristane injectionfailed, marked by a decreasing number of Tregs, followed by an increase of Th subsets, proinflammatorycytokines and autoantibodies. This compensatory failure of Tregs could be affectedby pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IFN-α and IL-6.