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Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Isolation of CD4+ T-cells and Analysis of Circulating T-follicular Helper (cTfh) Cell Subsets from Peripheral Blood Using 6-color Flow Cytometry
Published on: January 7, 2019
Relationship between T lymphocyte subsets and cortisol in systemic lupus erythematosus
1Department of Biochemistry, Basic Medical Science Block, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.
Background:
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a complex chronic immunological disease characterized by increased B cell activity and altered T cell function.
Objective:
To investigate relationship between T lymphocyte subsets and cortisol with the disease activity of systemic lupus erythematosus patients in North India.
Materials And Methods:
The percentage of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in the lymphocyte of SLE patients and healthy controls were determined by flow cytometry. Serum cortisol of SLE patients and healthy controls was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results:
A significant decrease in the percentage of CD4(+) T cells and increase in the percentage of CD8(+) T cells were found in patients with SLE compared to the healthy controls. Decrease in the ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) T cell and low level of serum cortisol were found in the patients with SLE. The ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) T cell was inversely correlated with systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) score and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). A positive correlation was observed between CD8(+) T cells and SLEDAI score. Furthermore, CD8(+) T cells were positively correlated with ESR in the patients with SLE.
Conclusion:
The results showed that low level of cortisol and high percentage of CD8(+) T cells in the lymphocytes could be actively involved in the pathogenesis of SLE.
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