Hyperactivation and in situ recruitment of inflammatory Vδ2 T cells contributes to disease pathogenesis in systemic lupus erythematosus

Sci Rep. 2015 Sep 23:5:14432. doi: 10.1038/srep14432.

Abstract

In this study, we measured the proportion of peripheral Vδ2 T cells as well as the status and chemokine receptor expression profiles in SLE patients and healthy control (HC). In addition, Vδ2 T cell infiltration in the kidneys of patients with lupus nephritis was examined. The results showed that the percentage of peripheral Vδ2 T cells in new-onset SLE was decreased, and negatively correlated with the SLE Disease Activity Index score and the severity of proteinuria. These cells had a decreased apoptosis but an increased proliferation, and they showed increased accumulation in SLE kidneys. Moreover, IL-21 production and CD40L, CCR4, CCR7, CCR8, CXCR1 and CX3CR1 expression in Vδ2 T cells from SLE patients was significantly higher than from HC (p < 0.05), and these factors were downregulated in association with the repopulation of peripheral Vδ2 T cells in patients who were in remission (p < 0.05). In addition, anti-TCR Vδ2 antibodies activation significantly upregulated these chemokine receptors on Vδ2 T cells from HC, and this effect was blocked by inhibitors of PLC-γ1, MAPK/Erk, and PI3K signaling pathways. Our findings demonstrate that the distribution and function status of Vδ2 T cells from SLE patients are abnormal, and these aberrations may contribute to disease pathogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Apoptosis / immunology
  • CD40 Ligand / biosynthesis
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chemokines / biosynthesis
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Interleukins / biosynthesis
  • Kidney / immunology
  • Lupus Nephritis / immunology*
  • Lupus Nephritis / pathology*
  • Male
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Phospholipase C gamma / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology*
  • Receptors, Chemokine / biosynthesis*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Chemokines
  • Interleukins
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Receptors, Chemokine
  • CD40 Ligand
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • Phospholipase C gamma
  • interleukin-21