Clinical Pathology Department, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71526, Egypt.
Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz). 2019 Jun;67(3):161-169. doi: 10.1007/s00005-019-00537-6. Epub 2019 Apr 4.
The contribution of innate immune cells, including natural killer (NK) and natural killer T (NKT) cells, in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is still unclear. Herein, we examined the frequency of peripheral NK cells, CD56 and CD56 NK cells, and NKT cells in patients with juvenile SLE and their potential relations to SLE-related clinical and laboratory parameters. The study included 35 SLE children and 20 apparently healthy controls. After baseline clinical and lab work, SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI-2K) and Pediatric Systemic Lupus International Collaborative Clinics/American College of Rheumatology (SLICC/ACR) Damage Index (Ped-SDI) scores were assessed. The frequency of peripheral NK cells, CD56 and CD56 NK cells, and NKT cells was examined using flow cytometry. SLE patients showed significantly lower frequency of NK cells and NKT cells and higher frequency of CD56 NK cells compared to controls. Disease activity, urea, and creatinine correlated negatively with NK, but positively with CD56 NK cells. NK and NKT cells exhibited inverse correlation with the renal biopsy activity index; however, CD56 NK cells showed direct correlations with both activity and chronicity indices. Regarding Ped-SDI, renal, neuropsychiatry disorders, and growth failure correlated inversely with NK but directly with CD56 NK cells. NKT cell inversely correlated with renal damage and delayed puberty. In conclusion, low frequency of NK and NKT and expansion of CD56 NK cells are marked in juvenile SLE, particularly with activity. These changes have direct effect on renal impairment and growth failure, reflecting their potential influence on disease progression.
固有免疫细胞，包括自然杀伤 (NK) 细胞和自然杀伤 T (NKT) 细胞，在系统性红斑狼疮 (SLE) 中的作用仍不清楚。在此，我们研究了幼年特发性系统性红斑狼疮 (JIA-SLE) 患者外周血 NK 细胞、CD56 和 CD56 NK 细胞及 NKT 细胞的频率，并探讨其与 SLE 相关临床和实验室参数的潜在关系。本研究纳入了 35 例 JIA-SLE 患儿和 20 名健康对照者。在基线临床和实验室检查后，评估了 SLE 疾病活动指数 (SLEDAI-2K) 和儿科系统性红斑狼疮国际合作临床研究/美国风湿病学会 (SLICC/ACR) 损害指数 (Ped-SDI)。采用流式细胞术检测外周血 NK 细胞、CD56 和 CD56 NK 细胞及 NKT 细胞的频率。与对照组相比，SLE 患儿 NK 细胞和 NKT 细胞频率显著降低，CD56 NK 细胞频率显著升高。疾病活动度、尿素和肌酐与 NK 细胞呈负相关，与 CD56 NK 细胞呈正相关。NK 细胞和 NKT 细胞与肾活检活动指数呈负相关；然而，CD56 NK 细胞与活动和慢性指数均呈直接相关。关于 Ped-SDI，肾脏、神经精神障碍和生长发育迟缓与 NK 细胞呈负相关，与 CD56 NK 细胞呈正相关。NKT 细胞与肾脏损害和青春期延迟呈负相关。总之，NK 细胞和 NKT 细胞频率降低和 CD56 NK 细胞比例升高在 JIA-SLE 中较为显著，尤其是与疾病活动相关。这些变化直接影响肾脏损害和生长发育迟缓，反映了它们对疾病进展的潜在影响。
