The change of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in peripheral blood of systemic lupus erythematosus patients and its significance

Objective: To explore the levels of plasmacytoid dendritic cells(pDC) and interferon-α(INF-α) in peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE),and its significance.Methods: Sixty patients with SLE and 30 healthy people were divided into the SLE group and control group,respectively.The relative amounts of pDC in two groups were measured by flow cytometry,and the serum levels of INF-α was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.Results: The relative amount of pDC in peripheral blood of patients with SLE was significantly lower than that in control groups(P<0.01).The relative amounts of pDC in peripheral blood in patients with active SLE was significantly lower than that in patients with stable SLE(P<0.01).The relative amount of pDC in peripheral blood in SLE patients with positive anti-dsDNA antibody was lower than that in SLE patients with negative anti-dsDNA antibody(P<0.01).The relative amount of pDC in peripheral blood in SLE patients was significantly negative correlation with the quantification of dsDNA and ANA(P<0.01).The differences of anti-P0 antibody,anti-U1RNP antibody,anti-Smith antibody,anti-histone antibody,anti-nucleosome antibody,anti-SSA/Ro60 antibody,anti-SSA/Ro52 antibody and anti-SSB antibody between positive group and negative group were not statistically significant(P>0.05).The relative amount of pDC in peripheral blood in SLE patients with positive renal lesion was lower that in SLE patients with negative renal lesion(P<0.01).The relative amount of pDC in peripheral blood in SLE patients with positive hematologic damage was lower that in SLE patients with negative hematologic lesion(P<0.01).The differences of malar erythema,hypersensitivity to light,oral ulcersor and arthritis between positive group and negative group were not statistically significant(P>0.05).The relative amount of pDC in peripheral blood in SLE patients was correlation without erythrocyte sedimentation rate,C-reactive protein and immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin,C3,C4 and activity scores of SLE(P>0.05).The serum level of IFN-α in patients with SLE was significantly higher than that in control group(P<0.01).Conclusions: The relative count of pDC in peripheral blood of SLE patients significantly decreases,which is correlation with disease,and a reference in clinical judgment of SLE disease activity.