ABSTRACT
Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients have decreased natural killer (NK) cell counts. The decrease in the number of NK cells has implications for a decrease in the function of NK cells which can affect the progression of SLE disease. The study aim was to determine profiles of CD3-CD56bright and CD3-CD56dim NK cells in SLE patients and their relation to disease activity. Material and methods: This study included 36 patients of SLE who fulfilled the ACR 1997/SLICC 2012 criteria, women aged 18-49 years. Disease activity was assessed by the Mex-SLEDAI. Peripheral blood samples from SLE patients were analyzed by flow cytometry to evaluate NK cell subsets, according to differential expression of the main subset of NK cells, which is CD3-CD56bright and CD3-CD56dim. Results: The mean percentage of regulatory NK cell count (CD3-CD56bright) in active SLE patients was significantly lower (p = 0.000) than in inactive SLE patients. The mean percentage of cytotoxic NK cell count (CD3-CD56dim) in active SLE patients was significantly (p = 0.000) higher than in inactive SLE patients. A correlation was observed between two subsets of NK cells with disease activity (p = 0.00). The percentage of CD3-CD56bright NK cells was negatively correlated with disease activity (r = -0.766), whereas the percentage of CD3-CD56dim NK cells positively correlated with disease activity (r = 0.761). Conclusions: There is a difference in the mean percentage of the number of NK cells (CD3-CD56+) in both a subset of regulatory NK cells (CD3-CD56bright) and cytotoxic NK cells (CD3-CD56dim) in active and inactive SLE patients and it is closely related to SLE disease activity.
ABSTRACT
Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases including SLE; however, there were still lack of data about the effects of administration of vitamin D in immune regulation in SLE patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of calcitriol/1,25(OH)2D3 on dendritic cells maturation and Th17 and Treg cells activation in SLE patients with hypovitamin D. The monocytes and lymphocytes of five SLE patients with hypovitamin D were divided into 4 groups, P0 (0 nM/control), P1 (1 nM), P2 (10 nM), and P3 (100 nM) as cultured samples. Flowcytometry analysis was used to evaluate dendritic cell maturation (the percentage of CD40, CD86, and HLA-DR expression) and the amount of Th17 and Treg cells (the percentage of Th17 and Treg cells). Cytokines production of IL-12, IL-17A, and TGF-ß measured by ELISA. This study showed significant differences in CD40, CD86, HLA-DR expressions, and Th17 percentage in 10 nM of 1,25(OH)2D3 compared to that of control. For cytokines secretion, there was also significant difference between IL-12p70 and IL-17A levels in 10 nM of 1,25(OH)2D3 compared to that of control. The 1,25(OH)2D3 increased Treg cells and TGF-ß level but not significant. Our study concluded that 1,25(OH)2D3 inhibited dendritic cells maturation and Th17 cells activation in SLE patients. The 1,25(OH)2D3 increased Treg cells but not significant.
