CD4 T lymphocyte subsets display heterogeneous susceptibility to apoptosis induced by serum from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: Serum from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients has been shown to induce T-lymphocyte (TL) apoptosis. Given that different cells of the immune system display different sensitivity to apoptosis, we set to evaluate the in vitro effect of SLE serum on regulatory T-cells (Treg), Th17, Th1 and Th2 from SLE patients and healthy controls.

Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from SLE patients or normal controls were exposed to a pool of sera from SLE patients or normal controls.

Th17 cells and CD4(+) multifunctional T cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Introduction/objective: Recent evidence suggests that abnormalities involving Th17 lymphocytes are associated with the pathophysiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In addition, multifunctional T cells (MFT), i.e.

The effects of freeze/thawing on the function and phenotype of CD4(+) lymphocyte subsets in normal individuals and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Several studies report on lymphocyte phenotypic and functional abnormalities in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Freezing and thawing may alter functional and phenotypic properties of cells. We assessed the effect of the freezing/thawing process (F/T) on Th1 (CD3(+)CD4(+)CCR4(-)CXCR3(+)CCR5(+)), Th2 (CD3(+)CD4(+)CCR5(-)CXCR3(-)CCR4(+)), Th17 (CD3(+)CD4(+)CCR6(+)CD161(+)), and Treg (CD3(+)CD4(+)CD25(high)CD127(-)) cell cultures in healthy controls and SLE patients.

Immune system - part I. Fundamentals of innate immunity with emphasis on molecular and cellular mechanisms of inflammatory response.

The immune system consists of an intricate network of organs, cells, and molecules responsible for maintaining the body's homeostasis and responding to aggression in general. Innate immunity operates in conjunction with adaptive immunity and is characterized by rapid response to aggression, regardless of previous stimulus, being the organism first line of defense. Its mechanisms include physical, chemical and biological barriers, cellular components, as well as soluble molecules.