Immunophenotyping reveals distinct subgroups of lupus patients based on their activated T cell subsets

Daniel J. Perry, Anton A. Titov, Eric S. Sobel, Todd M. Brusko, Laurence Morel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: This study performed an integrated analysis of the cellular and transcriptional differences in peripheral immune cells between patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and healthy controls (HC). Methods: Peripheral blood was analyzed using standardized flow cytometry panels. Transcriptional analysis of CD4+ T cells was performed by microarrays and Nanostring assays. Results: SLE CD4+ T cells showed an increased expression of oxidative phosphorylation and immunoregulatory genes. SLE patients presented higher frequencies of activated CD38+HLA-DR+ T cells than HC. Hierarchical clustering identified a group of SLE patients among which African Americans were overrepresented, with highly activated T cells, and higher frequencies of Th1, Tfh, and plasmablast cells. T cell activation was positively correlated with metabolic gene expression in SLE patients but not in HC. Conclusions: SLE subjects presenting with activated T cells and a hyperactive metabolic signature may represent an opportunity to correct aberrant immune activation through targeted metabolic inhibitors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number108602
JournalClinical Immunology
Volume221
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2020
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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