Increased soluble CD4 and decreased soluble CD8 molecules in patients with Sjögren's syndrome

A new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for soluble CD4 (sCD4) and soluble CD8 (sCD8) molecules has been developed. We estimated the concentrations of these molecules in patients with Sjögren's syndrome and in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) serving as a control population for non-Sjögren's inflammatory disease, since several findings suggestive of an aberration of immunocompetent cells have been reported in these autoimmune diseases.

The study population consisted of 41 patients with Sjögren's syndrome (28 cases of the primary form and 13 cases of the secondary form), 66 patients with SLE, and 43 normal individuals. Serum samples and clinical and laboratory data were collected from each patient and control. Assays of the sCD4 and sCD8 molecules were performed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent kit developed by T Cell Science Inc., Cambridge, MA.

The concentration of sCD4 was significantly increased in patients with both primary and secondary Sjögren's syndrome as compared with that in the control subjects. In contrast, sCD8 was significantly decreased in patients with primary disease but not in patients with secondary disease. A low or high concentration of sCD8 was significantly correlated with the presence of anti-SS-A antibody or hypocomplementemia, respectively. A similar significant correlation was noted between an increased sCD4 concentration and increased serum IgG level. In patients with SLE, the levels of both sCD4 and sCD8 were significantly increased.

These observations represent the first evidence of an increased level of the sCD4 molecule and a decreased level of the sCD8 molecule and an association with immunologic abnormalities in Sjögren's syndrome. The increased and decreased levels of these soluble molecules observed may play a pathologic role in patients with Sjögren's syndrome.