[Role of Fas-FasL and caspase-3 signal transduction pathway in promoting apoptosis of T lymphocyte subset in SLE patients].

AIM

To explore the relationship between Fas-FasL-mediated signal transduction pathway and apoptosis disorder of T lymphocyte subset in SLE patients.

METHODS

The expression rate of membrane Fas, FasL and that of intracellular activated caspase-3 of T lymphocyte subset were determined by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Compared with healthy control group, the expression rate of membrane Fas on CD4(+) T cells significantly increased in SLE patients in the active and inactive phases (P<0.05), however, that on CD8(+) T cells slightly increased but there was no statistical significance (P>0.05). The expression rate of FasL on T cell subset in SLE patients in the active and inactive phases significantly increased (P<0.05) but there was no obvious difference of the expression rate of Fas and FasL on T cell subset between the two disease groups (P>0.05). The expression rate of intracellular activated caspase-3 in T cell subset of SLE patients in the active phase was notably higher than that in the inactive phase and healthy control group (P<0.05). The expression rate of intracellular activated caspase-3 in T cell subset of SLE patients in the inactive phase was slightly higher than that in health control group but there was no statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

Apoptotic speed of T lymphocyte subset in SLE patients was accelerated while CD4(+) T cells were in a state of active apoptosis. It is possible that Fas-FasL signal transduction pathway plays an important role in the induction of T cell apoptosis. The degree of apoptosis of T lymphocytes closely correlates with the disease's activity in SLE patients.