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Updated: Mar 28, 2026

The bm12 Inducible Model of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus SLE in C57BL/6 Mice
Published on: November 1, 2015
Complement C4 induces regulatory T cells differentiation through dendritic cell in systemic lupus erythematosus
Hong-Bin Cheng1, Rong-Yi Chen2, Jing-Ping Wu1
1Teaching Hospital of Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, 610072 Sichuan China.
Background:
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypic systemic autoimmune disease. Complement component 4 (C4) has be proved to play a role in pathogenesis of SLE. In the present study, we investigated the effect of C4 on T cells differentiation.
Methods:
Thirty SLE patients were included in this study. CD4+ T cells were isolated from healthy subjects, and dendritic cells (DCs) were isolated from healthy subjects or SLE patients. C4 was supplemented to co-incubate with T cells and DCs.
Results:
Serum C4 concentration was positively correlated with regulatory T cell (Treg) percentage (R(2) = 0.5907, p < 0.001) and TGFβ concentration (R(2) = 0.5641, p < 0.001) in SLE patients. Different concentrations of C4 had no effect on T cells differentiation. Co-incubated T cells with DCs and C4 for 7 days, the Treg percentage and TGF-β concentration were significantly elevated. In addition, pre-treated DCs (from healthy subjects or SLE patients) with C4 and then co-incubated with T cells, the increases of Treg percentage and TGF-β concentration were also observed.
Conclusion:
C4 takes part in T cells differentiation to Treg cells via DCs.
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