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Updated: Jun 10, 2026
Single-cell Analysis of Immunophenotype and Cytokine Production in Peripheral Whole Blood via Mass Cytometry
Published on: June 26, 2018
Expression of CD55 and CD59 on peripheral blood cells from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients
A P Alegretti1, T Mucenic, J Merzoni
1Serviço de Patologia Clínica, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. anaalegretti@gmail.com
Abstract:
CD55 and CD59 are glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins with complement inhibitory properties. CD55 inhibits the formation of C3 convertases, and CD59 prevents the terminal polymerisation of the membrane attack complex. It has been reported that SLE patients seems to have an acquired deficiency of these proteins associated with secondary autoimmune haemolytic anaemia and lymphopenia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of altered CD55 and CD59 expression on peripheral blood cells from SLE patients. Flow cytometric analyses were performed on red and white blood cells from 23 SLE patients and 23 healthy controls. We observed more CD55- and CD59-lymphocytes (p=0.005 and p=0.019, respectively), and CD59-granulocytes (p=0.045) in SLE patients than in controls. These results suggest there is an altered pattern of CD55 and CD59 expression on the peripheral blood cells of SLE patients, and it may play a role in the cytopenias in these patients.
