Defective proliferative response of T lymphocytes from patients with inactive systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective. To further define the pattern of alterations in the activation a nd apoptosis of T lymphocytes in patients with inactive systemic lupus eryt hematosus (SLE) through analysis of a large series of individuals. Methods. We isolated CD2+ peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from 41 patien ts with inactive SLE and analyzed their proliferative and apoptotic respons es to polyclonal activation. Results. In 19 of 41 (47%) patients, a low proliferative response to polycl onal mitogens was found. This defective response was inversely associated w ith an increased apoptotic response and increased expression of CD95 and CD 45RO antigens. Conclusion. We found that 2 groups of patients with inactive disease can be defined according to the functional behavior of their T lymphocytes, as de fined by the proliferative and apoptotic responses to mitogenic signals.