ABSTRACT
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a typical autoimmune disease. Lymphotoxin ß receptor (LTßR) signaling plays an important role in autoimmune inflammations. LTßR-Ig fusion protein, LTßR blocking agent, has been used to treat SLE, while its mechanism remains to be fully elucidated. In this study, to investigate the expression of LTßR in the T cells of SLE patients and its roles in the pathogenesis of SLE, we isolated the peripheral blood T cells of SLE patients and normal controls to detect expression of LTßR by flow cytometry and RNA assay. T cells were also stimulated with LIGHT, a ligand of LTßR, and then detected for their LTßR expressions and apoptosis by flow cytometry. Also, their expressions of inflammatory factors and receptors were determined by RNA assay. The results showed that LTßR positive cells were 22.75%±6.98% in CD3+ cells of SLE patients, while there were almost no LTßR positive cells in CD3+ cells of normal persons. Moreover, LTßR expression was remarkably higher in CD3, CD4 and CD8 positive T cells of active SLE patients than non/low active patients (all P<0.05), and positively correlated with increased Ig level, decreased complement level and renal damage. Moreover, the stimulation of SLE T cells with LIGHT promoted higher expression of LTßR, IL-23R and IL-17A, and apoptosis of T cells. In conclusion, we demonstrated a high expression of LTßR in the T cells of SLE patients which may be associated with pathogenesis of SLE.
ABSTRACT
AIM: To study the magnitude and correlation of humoral and cellular immune responses to hepatitis surface antigen(HBsAg), preS1+S2 antigen, and core antigen(HBcAg) in the blood donors. METHODS: Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to scan the humoral immune responses to HBsAg, preS1+S2 antigen, and HBcAg. Enzyme linked immunospot assay (ELISPOT) was used to check the antigen specific IFN-γ secreting cells stimulated by HBsAg, preS1+S2 antigen or HBcAg in peripheral blood mononuclear cell from blood donors. RESULTS: The prevalence of humoral immune response to preS1+S2 antigen was as high as 85.7% (48/56), compared with the lower response to HBcAg (30.4%, 17/56). In the cellular immune response, there was no difference between preS1+S2 antigen and HBcAg, both of which were stronger than the response stimulated by HBsAg. PreS1+S2 antigen or HBsAg specific humoral immune and cellular immune responses were highly correlated, which could not be observed in the HBcAg specific humoral immune and cellular immune responses(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Either humoral or cellular immune responses to HBsAg, preS1+S2 antigen and HBcAg could be detected in the blood donors. PreS1+S2 antigen immune responses, however, were most powerful, which may suggest that PreS1+S2 antigen may be a candidate for the further HBV vaccine.
