Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 27, 2026
Dermoscopy Aids in the Diagnosis of Discoid Lupus Erythematosus
Published on: May 16, 2025
CD44v3 and CD44v6 isoforms on T cells are able to discriminate different disease activity degrees and phenotypes in
L Novelli1, C Barbati1, F Ceccarelli1
11 Lupus Clinic, Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Background:
Adhesion molecule CD44 contributes to T cell migration into target organs. A higher expression of CD44v3 and v6 isoforms has been identified on T cells from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of CD44v3/v6 on T cells of SLE patients in order to evaluate their correlation with clinical features.
Methods:
Sixteen healthy subjects (HSs) and 33 SLE female patients were enrolled. Fifteen patients were in remission (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index-2000 (SLEDAI-2K) = 0) and 18 patients had an active disease (SLEDAI-2K ≥ 4). Experiments were conducted by flow cytometry.
Results:
Expression of CD44v3 on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was higher in active patients compared to HSs ( p = 0.0097 and p = 0.0096). CD44v3 on CD8+ T cells was also higher in active patients compared to patients in remission ( p = 0.038). CD44v6 was higher on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from active patients compared to HSs ( p = 0.003 and p = 0.0036) and to patients in remission ( p = 0.01 and p = 0.02). In active patients the ratio CD44v3/v6 was unbalanced towards isoform v6 on both T cell populations. In a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, CD44v6 on CD4+ T cells was the most sensitive and specific one (specificity of 81.8%, sensitivity of 75%). Expression of CD44v6 on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells correlated with the SLEDAI-2K ( p = 0.03, r = 0.38 and p = 0.02, r = 0.39). CD44v6 and CD44v3 on CD8+ T cells associated with nephritis and arthritis ( p = 0.047 and p = 0.023).
Conclusions:
CD44v3/v6 can be used as biomarkers of disease activity and phenotypes; isoform v6 on CD4+ T cells can be useful as a diagnostic biomarker.
Related Concept Videos
02:55Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
01:24One-Degree-of-Freedom System
A one-degree-of-freedom system is defined by an independent variable that determines its state and behavior. One example of a one-degree-of-freedom system is a simple harmonic oscillator, such as a...
01:02Degrees of Freedom
For example, suppose there are three unknown numbers whose mean is 10; although we can freely assign values to the first and second numbers, the value of the last number can not be arbitrarily assigned.
01:02Degrees of Freedom
For example, suppose there are three unknown numbers whose mean is 10; although we can freely assign values to the first and second numbers, the value of the last number can not be arbitrarily...
02:05Degree of Unsaturation
The degree of unsaturation for hydrocarbons is U = (2C + 2 − H) / 2, where C is the number of carbon atoms and H is the number of hydrogen atoms.
01:19Degree of Curvature and Radius of Curvature