Role of Some Apoptotic Proteins in Pathogenesis of Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erytheromatosis and Lupus Nephritis

Background: Apoptosis is increased in Systemic Lupus Erytheromatosis (SLE) patients with defective clearance of apoptotic cells, which lead to a pathological accumulation of abnormal cell debris and provide an autoimmune reaction. The aim of this work was to evaluate apoptosis and CD4/CD8 ratio in juvenile SLE patients and their relation to disease activity and lupus nephritis (LN).

Methods: This case-control study included 50 patients with jSLE divided into two groups according to SLEDAI score and twenty-five healthy children of matched age and sex as controls. All cases were subjected to detection of apoptosis, in the early stage through investigation of Annexin V and CD4/CD8 ratio through CD4 and CD8 T cells monoclonal antibody using the BD Accuri™ C6 Flow Cytometer Instrument.

Results: early apoptosis has statistically significant increase in the jSLE patients compared to controls with positive correlation to disease activity and no correlation to LN. (active group 20.77± 7.88, inactive group13± 6.8 and controls3.53± 1.26). CD4/CD8 ratio has significant decrease in patients compared to controls with inversed correlation to disease activity and no correlation to LN. (active group1.28 ± 0.51, inactive group1.6 ± 00.6 and controls 2.1 ± 0.6.

Conclusions: Apoptosis is high in jSLE patients with low CD4/CD8 ratio which related to disease activity, but not related to LN.