thapsigargin and Lupus-Erythematosus--Systemic

Several immuno-regulatory abnormalities have been described in SLE patients. T cell dysfunction in SLE includes defective in vitro proliferative responses to several stimuli, reduced IL-2 production and a poor helper function. It has been widely proposed that this defective T cell immunoregulatory function has a key role in the hyperactivity of B cells and auto-antibody production in SLE. However, it has not been elucidated whether or not this cell dysfunction is intrinsic to lymphocytes or is due to other factors such as anti-lymphocyte auto-antibodies. In this study we have evaluated some important early cell activation events in T and non-T lymphocytes from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Peripheral blood lymphocytes from SLE patients and controls were isolated. The intracellular pH (pHi), cytosolic calcium (Ca2+i) and CD69 expression were determined by spectrofluorometry and flow cytometry. Modifications of these parameters in response to protein kinase C (PKC) activators, mitogenic lectins and calcium ionophores were also studied. We found a significant reduction in the increase of pHi in response to PKC activators (PMA) in SLE cells. In addition, the induction of CD69 expression by PMA was significantly lower in T cells from SLE patients. By contrast, freshly isolated non-stimulated SLE cells exhibited a significantly higher pHi, as well as an increased baseline expression of the early cell activation antigen CD69. On the other hand, the increase in Ca2+i in response to a Ca2+ ionophore (4Br-A23187) or thapsigargin in Ca(2+)-free solutions, was smaller in SLE lymphocytes. We concluded that T cells from SLE patients exhibit abnormalities in several key early cell activation events (pHi, Ca2+i and CD69 expression). These abnormalities could have an important role in the T cell dysfunction observed in SLE. The presence of T cells with a preactivated phenotype in the peripheral blood of SLE patients, could be a reflection of the ongoing autoimmune phenomena that is occurring in these patients.

Topics: Antigens, CD; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; Calcimycin; Calcium; Carcinogens; Cell Division; Cytosol; Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Interleukin-2; Intracellular Fluid; Ionophores; Lectins, C-Type; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Lymphocyte Activation; Protein Kinase C; Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers; Spectrometry, Fluorescence; T-Lymphocytes; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; Thapsigargin

We studied the TCR/CD3 complex-mediated signal transduction pathway in freshly isolated T cells and T cell lines from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The peak and 5-min anti-CD3 mAb-mediated free intracytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) increase was statistically significant higher in fresh T cells from SLE patients than in control T cells. Increased CD3-mediated [Ca2+]i responses were observed in T cells from patients with SLE but not in T cells from other rheumatic diseases. Furthermore, significantly increased CD3-mediated [Ca2+]i responses were observed in T cell lines from SLE patients but not from controls. Although the [Ca2+]i response did not correlate with the global SLE disease activity or individual clinical manifestations, it was significantly higher in the group of patients who were not on treatment. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets from peripheral blood cells and T cell lines displayed higher CD3-mediated [Ca2+]i responses than their normal counterparts. The peak of the response occurred earlier in the patient than in the normal group. The amount of Ca2+ that was released from the intracellular stores was higher in lupus than control T cells. The TCR/CD3-induced production of inositol phosphate metabolites in SLE cells was comparable with controls. The sarcoplasmic and endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin-induced [Ca2+]i response was similar in both SLE and normal T cells. Our experiments demonstrate for the first time a definite abnormality in the early steps of the TCR/CD3-mediated signal transduction pathway in T cells from SLE patients that involves increased release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Calcium; Cell Line; Female; Humans; Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Male; Middle Aged; Receptor-CD3 Complex, Antigen, T-Cell; Signal Transduction; T-Lymphocytes; Terpenes; Thapsigargin