Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026
The bm12 Inducible Model of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) in C57BL/6 Mice
Published on: November 1, 2015
Enhanced transcript levels of CD48 in CD4⁺ T cells from systemic lupus erythematosus patients
Eva Balada1, Jesús Castro-Marrero, Anna Pedrosa Pujol
1Research Unit in Systemic Autoimmune Diseases, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain. ebalada@ir.vhebron.net
Insights
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) patients show higher CD48 mRNA levels in CD4+ T cells compared to healthy individuals. This suggests CD48 overexpression may impact SLE development.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- CD48 is known to regulate T-cell activation.
- Understanding its role in autoimmune diseases like SLE is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the transcriptional expression of CD48 in CD4+ T cells of SLE patients.
- To investigate potential correlations between CD48 mRNA levels and clinical parameters in SLE.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative analysis of CD48 mRNA expression in CD4+ T cells from 30 SLE patients and 30 healthy controls.
- Correlation analysis with age, anti-dsDNA antibodies, complement levels, lymphocyte counts, and SLEDAI scores.
Main Results:
- CD48 mRNA levels were significantly higher in SLE patients (1.80 ± 1.41) versus controls (1.10 ± 0.50) (p=0.023).
- A positive correlation was found between CD48 transcript levels and SLEDAI scores (r=0.372, p=0.042).
- No association was observed with anti-dsDNA, complement, or lymphocyte counts.
Conclusions:
- Elevated CD48 mRNA in CD4+ T cells of SLE patients suggests its potential role in disease pathogenesis.
- The positive correlation with SLEDAI indicates CD48 may be linked to disease activity in SLE.
Abstract:
It is known that CD48 regulates T-cell activation. We evaluated the transcriptional expression of CD48 in CD4⁺ T cells from 30 SLE patients and 30 healthy controls. CD48 mRNA levels were considerably higher in the patients group: 1.80 ± 1.41 versus 1.10 ± 0.50 (p=0.023). An inverse correlation was obtained with respect to CD48 mRNA levels and age in the control group (r= -0.478, p=0.007). None association was found between CD48 mRNA expression and levels of anti-dsDNA, complement, or lymphocyte counts. Alternatively, a statistically significant positive correlation was observed between CD48 transcript levels and SLEDAI values (r=0.372, p=0.042). The higher CD48 mRNA levels observed in CD4⁺ T cells from SLE patients and the positive correlation found with SLEDAI lead us to infer that an overexpression of the protein coded by this gene may have important consequences on the development of SLE.
