[Studies on the T4+2H4+ cell of peripheral blood lymphocyte in systemic lupus erythematosus]

The cell surface phenotype of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was studied with the anti-T4+, T8+ and T4+2H4+ monoclonal antibodies by flow cytometry. 13 patients with active SLE had a markedly low percentage of T4+2H4+ cells but had normal percentage of T8+ cells. Our results reveal that the influence of T cell to B cell is not only because of the quantity of T cells, also because of the function of T cells. The abnormality of T4+2H4+ cells may be important in the pathogenesis of SLE.