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Increased Fas and Bcl-2 Expression on Peripheral Mononuclear Cells from Patients with Active Juvenile-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
BERNADETE LOURDES LIPHAUS, MARIA HELENA BITTENCOURT KISS, SOLANGE CARRASCO, and CLAUDIA GOLDENSTEIN-SCHAINBERG
ABSTRACT. Methods. Thirty-eight patients with JSLE and 21 healthy controls were studied. Eleven JSLE patients with SLEDAI score ≥ 8 were categorized as active. Freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stained for lymphocyte markers CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD19 and for Fas and Bcl-2 molecules. Cell protein expression was measured by 3-color flow cytometry. Results. Percentages of lymphocytes positively stained for Fas antigen and cytoplasmic expression of Bcl-2 measured by mean fluorescence intensity from patients were significantly increased compared to controls on CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells. Patients with active disease had higher percentages of CD19+ B cells positive for Fas antigen compared to patients with inactive lupus. A direct statistical correlation was observed between Fas and Bcl-2 expression on CD19+ B cells and SLE Disease Activity Index score. Conclusion. Patients with juvenile-onset SLE show upregulation of apoptosis-related proteins. Patients with active and inactive disease have a different profile of Fas and Bcl-2 expression. (First Release May 15 2007; J Rheumatol 2007;34:1580-4) Key Indexing Terms:
FAS
From the Children's Institute, Department of Pediatrics, and Department of Rheumatology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Supported by a grant from the São Paulo State Research Foundation (FAPESP 03/00803-4). B.L. Liphaus, MD; M.H. Bittencourt Kiss, MD, Children's Institute, Department of Pediatrics; S. Carrasco, MS; C. Goldenstein-Schainberg, MD, Department of Rheumatology. Address reprint requests to Dr. B Liphaus, Rua Teodoro Sampaio, 352/166, Pinheiros, São Paulo–SP, Brazil, CEP 05406-000. E-mail: bernadll@icr.hcnet.usp.br Accepted for publication March 14, 2007. |
