Fas expression on peripheral blood t lymphocytes in systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE]: relation to disease activity and lupus nephritis

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] is an autoantigen driven T cell dependent autoimmune disease. Lupus nephritis is one of the most serious complications in SLE, occurring in up to 60% of the patients. SLE patients show increased apoptosis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMCs], especially T lymphocytes and decreased resistance of activated T cells to apoptosis. Fas, also known as APO-1 or CD95, is a cell surface protein that triggers apoptotic cell death with characteristic cytoplasmic and nuclear condensation and DNA fragmentation. The aim of this work was to evaluate Fas expression [as an apoptotic marker] on peripheral blood T lymphocytes in SLE patients in relation to disease activity and lupus nephritis