Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 31, 2025

An Adoptive Transfer Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Mice
Published on: June 6, 2025
Expression patterns of CD28 and CTLA-4 in early, chronic, and untreated rheumatoid arthritis
Mariel García-Chagollán1, Iris Yolanda Ledezma-Lozano1, Jorge Hernández-Bello1
1Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, México.
Background:
T-cell activation pathways have been proposed as trigger mechanisms in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). CD28 and CTLA-4 play major roles in regulating the stimulatory and inhibitory co-signals in T cells.
Objective:
To analyze the association between soluble and surface expression of CD28 and CTLA-4 with the clinical parameters of RA patients.
Methods:
A total of 35 RA patients classified as early RA (n = 14), chronic RA (n = 14), and untreated RA (n = 7), as well as 7 age- and sex-matched control subjects (CS) were included. Surface expression of CD28 and CTLA-4 on T cells was evaluated by flow cytometry. Soluble levels of CD28 (sCD28), CTLA-4 (sCTLA-4), and anti-CCP antibodies were measured by ELISA.
Results:
A significant lower percentage of CD8 + T cells positive to CD28 (CS = 64.9% vs RA = 42.7%, P = .04), and diminished surface expression of CD28 (CS: MFI = 122.9 vs RA: MFI = 33.1, P = .006), were found in chronic RA patients compared to CS. Higher sCD28 were observed in early RA patients compared with chronic RA patients (P < .05). sCTLA-4 was found increased in untreated RA patients compared to early RA patients (P < .05). sCD28 concentration correlated with anti-CCP levels (rho = -0.12; P = .032). The soluble and surface expressions of CTLA-4 were not associated with RA clinical parameters.
Conclusions:
In RA, the percentage of CD8 + CD28+ T cells decreases and expresses fewer membrane CD28 than CS. sCD28 levels are lower in chronic RA and are associated negatively with anti-CCP levels. sCTLA 4 levels are lower in early RA patients than in untreated RA patients.
More Related Videos
12:23Flow Cytometry Analysis of Immune Cell Subsets within the Murine Spleen, Bone Marrow, Lymph Nodes and Synovial Tissue in an Osteoarthritis Model
Published on: April 24, 2020
11:52Differentiation of Functional Osteoclasts from Human Peripheral Blood CD14+ Monocytes
Published on: January 27, 2023
Related Concept Videos
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Biologic Agents: Anti-TNF