Jacobi AM, Mei H, Hoyer BF, Mumtaz IM, Thiele K, Radbruch A, Burmester GR, Hiepe F, Dörner T. HLA-DRhigh/CD27high plasmablasts indicate active disease in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Ann Rheum Dis 2010;
69:305-8. [PMID:
19196727 DOI:
10.1136/ard.2008.096495]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Monitoring of peripheral B-cell subsets in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) revealed an activity-related expansion of CD27(++)CD20(-)CD19(dim) Ig-secreting cells. A similar subset has also been identified 6-8 days after tetanus/diphtheria vaccination in normal individuals and in patients with infectious disease.
METHODS
This subset was analysed further focussing on the HLA-DR surface expression in a cohort of 25 patients with SLE.
RESULTS
This study revealed that 86% (range 59-97%) of CD27(++)CD20(-)CD19(dim) cells express high levels of HLA-DR, are also expanded in the bone marrow, and represent plasmablasts enriched with anti-dsDNA secreting cells. The remaining CD27(++)CD20(-)CD19(dim) cells were HLA-DR(low) and represent mature plasma cells. Importantly, HLA-DR(high) plasmablasts showed a closer correlation with lupus activity and anti-dsDNA levels than the previously identified CD27(++)CD20(-)CD19(dim) cells.
CONCLUSION
HLA-DR(high)CD27(++)CD20(-)CD19(dim) plasmablasts represent a more precise indicator of lupus activity and suggest that there is an overproduction or lack of negative selection of these cells in SLE.
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