Quantitative alterations of CD8+ T cells in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients in remission

The study was aimed to investigate whether quantities of CD8 + T cell subsets are normal in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients with disease remission compared to age-matched healthy donors (HD) and whether chronological age may have an impact on proportions of naive CD8 + T cells. CD8 + T cell subsets were analyzed in 17 JIA patients and 32 age-matched HD by flow cytometry. JIA patients showed lower CD3 + CD8 + T cells compared to HD. Total counts of CD8 + CD28 + and CD8 + CD28 + CD45RA + T cells were inversely correlated to chronological age in JIA patients and HD. In JIA patients, percentages of CD8 + CD28 + CD45RA + T cells and of CD62L-expressing CD8 + CD28 + CD45RA + T cells showed a negative correlation with age. The trend to lower CD28 + CD45RA + T cell proportions in aged JIA patients in remission may reflect a disturbed T cell homeostasis independently of disease activity and may be due to an intrinsic effect in reconstitution of the peripheral T cells.