Abstract
Objective:
To determine phenotypic and functional characteristics of memory B cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Methods:
The percentage of memory B cell subsets in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from normal control (n=11), inactive (n=15) and active (n=10) SLE patients was determined by Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorter (FACS). In addition, the activation status of memory B cells was measured by the surface expression of CD86 (B7-2). The production of antibodies to chromatin and dsDNA (IgG and IgM type) by isolated memory B cell subsets was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results:
In this study, we analyzed 2 subtypes of memory B cells: FSC (Forward Side Scat- ter)low and FSChigh memory B cell. The percentage of both subtypes from active and inactive SLE patients was significantly reduced compared to that of normal controls (p<0.01). In addition, the expression of activation markers, CD86 on FSChigh memory B cells from active SLE patients was higher than those of inactive SLE patients and normal controls (p=0.014). Upon stimulation with CpG and IL-15 in vitro for 8 days, isolated FSChigh memory B cells from active SLE patients revealed augmented production of autoantibodies to chromatin and dsDNA.
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Table 1.
∗ Significant difference between healthy and inactive SLE(p<0.01), ∗∗No Significant difference between healthy and active SLE (p=0.065), ∗∗∗Significant difference between healthy and active SLE (p<0.001), +Nosignifi- cant difference between inactive and active SLE (p= 0.119), Significant difference between inactive and active SLE (p< 0.001)