Phenotypic and functional analysis of EBV-specific memory CD8 cells in SLE
T cell dysfunction has been described in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the specific phenotype and function of antigen-specific CD8 cells is less clear. Here we determined phenotype and function of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-specific CD8 cells at the single-cell level in SLE. HLA-A2-rest...
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Veröffentlicht in: | Cellular Immunology 2005-05, Vol.235 (1), p.29-38 |
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Zusammenfassung: | T cell dysfunction has been described in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the specific phenotype and function of antigen-specific CD8 cells is less clear. Here we determined phenotype and function of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-specific CD8 cells at the single-cell level in SLE. HLA-A2-restricted EBV-BMLF-1-specific CD8 cells were enumerated by flow cytometry using tetramers in SLE and healthy control subjects. Antigen-specific CD8 cells were analyzed for expression of differentiation, activation, proliferation, and anti-apoptotic markers. EBV-specific, other virus-specific (specific against a viral peptide pool consisting of cytomegalovirus, EBV and influenza virus peptides), and mitogen-induced CD8 cell function was assessed by INF-γ ELISPOT assay. Frequencies of EBV-specific CD8 cells tended to be greater in SLE subjects than in healthy control subjects (
p
=
0.07). While over 10% of EBV-specific CD8 cells were capable of producing IFN-γ in four out of five healthy control subjects, such proportions of EBV-specific CD8 cells capable of IFN-γ production were observed in only one out of six SLE subjects (
p
=
0.04). In contrast, viral peptide pool-specific and mitogen-induced IFN-γ-producing T cell function was intact in SLE subjects. Phenotypic analysis revealed EBV-specific CD8 cells to be in an early to intermediate differentiation and resting memory state in both groups. While EBV-specific CD8 cells are similar in phenotype, their frequency tends to be increased, and function appears to be decreased in SLE. Therefore, an impaired EBV-specific CD8 immune response may exist in SLE, potentially contributing to disease pathogenesis. |
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ISSN: | 0008-8749 1090-2163 1365-2567 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.cellimm.2005.06.010 |