[Expression of adhesion molecules on lymphocyte in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus]

Peripheral blood lymphocyte phenotype (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD45RA and CD45RO) and adhesion molecule phenotype (CD11a/LFA-1 alpha, CD18/LFA-1 beta and CD54/ICAM-1) were investigated in 35 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by using flow cytometric analysis and dual immunofluorescence staining method. Results demonstrated increase in CD8+ cell and decrease in CD4+ cell, CD4+/CD8+, and CD4+/CD45RA+ cell, as well as decrease in expression of CD11a and CD18 on CD4+ cell surface, Expression of CD11a and CD18 on CD8+ cell, and CD54 on CD20+ cell increased, Moreover, increase in CD18 on CD8+ cell correlated inversely with decrease in CD4+ CD45RA+ cell (P < 0.05) and positively with increase in CD54 on CD20+ cell (P < 0.01). These data suggest that adhesion molecule LFA-1 and ICAM-1 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE.