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Amyopathic dermatomyositis (ADM) is a subtype of DM defined by the presence of cutaneous signs of DM with no evidence of muscle weakness or abnormal muscle enzymes for ≥ 6 months.1 Classical DM (CDM) is characterized by modification of circulating lymphocytes 4, type I interferon (IFN) signature 2, elevation of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines 3. Pathophysiology of ADM is less studied. We analysed circulating T cells by flowcytometry (using specific monoclonal antibodies), peripheral blood mononuclear cells type I IFN signature by PCR and serum cytokine levels by ELISA in a series of 17 ADM and 15 CDM patients. [...]

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in CD8+CD28–/CD8+CD28+ T-cell subset balance and in the CD8+CD28– Treg cell number and function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods Cell isolation and flow cytometry analysis were employed to investigate the T-cell subsets. Results It was found that in high-activity SLE patients, the CD8+CD28+ T-cell subset was reduced, which was inversely correlated with the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), and that the CD8+CD28–/CD8+CD28+ ratio was elevated, which was positively correlated with SLEDAI and with renal damage and inversely correlated with serum complement level, whereas the CD8+CD28– T-cell subset was increased only in inactive patients. It was also found that apoptosis of CD8+ T cells increased, and Fas, Fas ligand (FasL) and interleukin (IL)-6 expression were high, whereas cytotoxic T-lymphocyte–associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) expression was low by the CD8+CD28+ T cell subset in active SLE patients; apoptosis was positively correlated with SLEDAI and with the expression of Fas and FasL by the CD8+CD28+ T-cell subset in active SLE patients. IL-6 and CTLA-4 expression were found to be low by the CD8+CD28– T cell subset in active SLE patients. Conclusion These data suggest that high expression of Fas, FasL and IL-6 and low expression of CTLA-4 by the CD8+CD28+ T-cell subset promotes the activation-induced cell death of the CD8+CD28+ T-cell subset, resulting in an imbalance of CD8+CD28–/CD8+CD28+ T cells in active SLE patients, which represents an important feature in the immunological pathogenesis of SLE. The CD8+CD28– T-cell subset may play some role in inactive SLE.

CD8+CD28-T cells (CD8Ts) exert immunosuppressive effects in various autoimmune diseases. The current study was designed to investigate the role of defects in CD8Ts in liver transplantation (LT). The proportion of CD8Ts in peripheral blood was determined by flow cytometry. The mean proportion of CD8Ts was 23.39% in recipients with stable graft function and 16.64% in those with graft dysfunction following LT compared with 19.86% in the healthy cohort. After receiving enhanced immunosuppressive therapy, patients in the rejection group who achieved recovery of graft function showed an increase in the proportion of CD8Ts (from 17.39% to 25.55%), but those in the group with refractory graft dysfunction showed no significant change (12.49% to 10.30%). Furthermore, in the first year after LT, recipients longer removed in time from the LT date exhibited a higher proportion of CD8Ts. Patients benefited most from tacrolimus concentrations of 5-10 ng/ml in the first year after LT and 0-5 ng/ml thereafter. Moreover, the change in the proportion of CD8Ts (ΔCD8Ts) was significantly higher in recipients with stable graft function than in those with graft dysfunction. These results suggest that a high frequency of CD8Ts prevents rejection and contributes to reduce immunosuppressant dosage and even induces tolerance.

Women are living longer than men and it seems that one of the reasons could be better immune system of females. In Poland, contrary to many European countries, women retire earlier than men, namely at 60 and 65, respectively. We asked the question how the gender and labour status were interconnected with some immunological parameters included in the so called immune risk profile (IRP), such as CD4+/CD8+ ratio, percentage of CD8+CD28−, and NK, and the level of circulating cytokines. A total of 92 men and 100 women past the retirement age, namely 65–74 years old, still working or not, were examined. We have found statistically significant lower percentage of CD8+CD28− cells and non-statistically significant higher CD4+/CD8+ ratio in women, whereas the percentage of NK was higher in men. Moreover, the percentage of CD8+CD28− cells was negatively correlated with the CD4+/CD8+ ratio and the concentration of IL8 was positively correlated with the concentration of IL10 both in men and women. In men, the level of IL10 was higher than in women. Altogether, we found that gender, but not labour status, influences immunosenescence of the examined population of 65–74 years old Polish people.

TA-65 is a small molecule telomerase activator extracted from Astragalus species. A previous observational study suggested that TA-65 decreased the number of immunosenescent cells in healthy subjects. Here we examined the impact of TA-65 in a much larger randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study. This study aims to evaluate the effects of TA-65 on senescent CD8+CD28- T cells in healthy subjects. This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and multi-arm parallel trial in 500 healthy subjects. Subjects, clinical staff, and primary outcome assessors were blinded until the database lock. A total of 500 healthy volunteers were randomly allocated, 100 subjects each, into one of the five groups; placebo, TA-65 (100 Units) qd, TA-65 (250 Units) qd, TA-65 (500 Units) qd, or TA-65 (250 Units) b.i.d. Change in the immunosenescence biomarker after nine months was measured. The intention-to-treat analysis of the primary outcome measure included all the randomized subjects (n = 500). Per-protocol analysis of the primary outcome measured included 93% of the randomized subjects (n = 424). Multilevel analysis revealed a significant decrease in the CD8+CD28- T cells with TA-65 intervention compared to the placebo group (p

Crohn disease (CD) with complications such as penetrating, stricturing, and perianal disease is called complicated CD. The aim of this study is to test the efficiency with which the CD8+CD28+/CD8+CD28– cell balance can predict a subsequent active stage in patients with newly diagnosed complicated CD. Seventeen patients with complicated CD and 48 CD patients with no complications were enrolled. Blood CD8+ T cells were tested from all of the 65 newly diagnosed CD patients upon enrollment. The potential risk factors were compared between the 2 groups. A 30-week follow-up was performed, and the efficiency of the CD8+ cell balance at predicting active CD was analyzed using receiver-operating characteristic curves. The cumulative remission lasting rates (CRLRs) were analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method. Compared with the control CD group, patients with complicated CD were predominantly male and younger in age; they also had lower body mass indices (BMIs), higher Crohn disease activity indices (CDAIs), higher immunosuppressant and steroid prescription rates, and significantly higher surgical rates. The CD8+CD28+/CD8+CD28– balance was associated with BMI, CDAI, steroids, and surgery. The CD8+CD28+/CD8+CD28– ratios were significantly lower at week 0 and on the 6th, 22nd, and 30th week during follow-up with a shorter lasting time of remission for the complicated CD patients. The CD8+CD28+/CD8+CD28– ratio could accurately predict the active stage for the patients with complicated CD, and the highest sensitivity (89.2%) and specificity (85.3%) were found when the ratio was 1.03. Treatment with steroids and surgery, along with a significantly lower CD8+CD28+/CD8+CD28– ratio and lower CRLRs, was closely related to a worse outcome for the patients with complicated CD. Patients requiring steroids and surgery experience more severe disease activity and thus a disequilibrated immunological balance, which could be the main reason for a decreased CD8+CD28+/CD8+CD28– ratio. This ratio can sensitively predict the active stage for patients with complicated CD, and more care should be taken when this ratio is

Cd8+cd28- t-lymphocytes are associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

The expression of CD25 or CD28 on T cells was examined in patients with rheumatic diseases associated with interstitial pneumonitis (IP), in order to investigate the conditions of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells and CD8+CD28- suppressor T cells. Fifty-five patients with various rheumatic diseases and 23 normal controls were enrolled. CD4+CD25+ T cells of patients with IP were significantly decreased in comparison with non-IP patients, and the ratio of CD8+CD28- T cells in patients with IP was significantly higher than that in non-IP patients or normal controls. These results for CD8+CD28- T cells were in accord with the decrease in CD8+CD28+ T cells, and may be related to activation-induced CD8+CD28+ T-cell death. Thus, the abnormality of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells may be related to the pathogenesis of IP, and the survival and activation of CD8+ T cells.

It is commonly believed that the age-related decrease in the ratio CD28(+)/CD28(-) among CD8(+) T cells reflects replicative senescence of the lymphocytes. To verify this claim we measured the proliferation of CD8(+)CD28(+) and CD8(+)CD28(-) subsets by flow cytometry after PHA treatment of mononuclear lymphocytes from donors of different age, including centenarians. The fraction of CD28(+) cells decreases from ca. 80 to 40% (young to centenarians, respectively) with increasing age of the donors. Stimulation by PHA results in an increase in the ratio of CD28(+) relative to CD28(-) in all age groups. We found that not only CD8(+)CD28(+) but also CD8(+)CD28(-) cells were capable of proliferation. Moreover, the fraction of proliferation-competent CD28(-) cells was higher in the older donors compared with the younger ones. While PHA treatment led to apoptosis (as measured by DNA content and caspase-3 activation) of more than 20% of all lymphocytes, in the CD8(+) subset only ca. 10% died, irrespective of their CD28 status. Altogether, we showed over-representation of proliferating CD8(+)CD28(-) cells in aged people, which might not be particularly prone to undergo apoptosis.

Immune balances are important for many diseases including ulcerative colitis (UC). This study aimed to explore the role of the balance between CD8+ CD28+ and CD8+ CD28- T lymphocytes for the immunological pathogenesis of UC.Sixteen patients with UC, 16 patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and 15 healthy volunteers were enrolled. The frequencies of CD8+ CD28+ and CD8+CD28- T lymphocytes in peripheral blood and colon tissue were tested using flow cytometry and immunofluorescent, respectively. The cytokines of the two lymphocytes were detected by protein chips and ELISA. The expression of the signal transducers, the JAK3 and STAT6, as well the transcription factors, the NFATc2 and GATA3, was all detected by both western blot and immunohistochemistry.For UC patients, the frequencies of CD8+ CD28+ T lymphocytes, together with the ratios of CD8+ CD28+ / CD8+ CD28- T lymphocytes in blood and colon tissue, were significantly lower than those in both IBS patients and healthy volunteers. But the frequencies of CD8+ CD28- T lymphocytes in blood and colon tissue of the UC patients were significantly higher than the other two groups. The concentration of IL-7 and -13, and the expression of JAK3 and STAT6 in UC patients, were significantly lower when compared with the other two groups. Conversely, the concentration of IL-12p40 and -15, and the expression of GATA3 and NFATc2 in UC patients, were significantly higher than both IBS and control group.The balance of CD8+ CD28+ / CD8+ CD28- T lymphocytes plays a vital role in UC, while the balance tilt towards CD8+ CD28+ T lymphocytes is beneficial for patients with UC.

Background: Patients with CTLC usually have a poor immune response. CD8+CD28− T cells are new types of immune suppressor cells. The study was to analyze the level and changes of them in peripheral blood with CTLC, their effects on immunosupression of CTLC, the influence factors to provide reference for treatment of CTLC patients. Patients and Methods: 27 patients with CTLC were enrolled in the study: 8 women and 19 men aged 35–81, medium 57. According to Ann Arbor classification stage I was represented by 1 patient, stage II -6 patients, stage III - 5 patients, stage IV - 6 patients and stage early stage (premycoticus) was represented by 8 patients. Peripheral blood samples were assessed from all patients with CTLC before treatment and 8 normals. Percentage CD8+CD28− T cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. Result: Compared with control group percentage of CD8+CD28− T cells was significantly higher in patients group p=0,005 (test U Mann Whitney). There were no significant differences of T-cells in among patients with different clinical stages. We revealed the correlation between CD8+CD28− cells and advanced clinical stage r=0,54, p=0,035 (Spearman correlation test). Conclusion: Percentage of CD8+CD28− T cells is increased in peripheral blood in CTLC patients, and correlates with advanced stage.