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Expression of Programmed Death-1 (PD-1) on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Inflammation volume 37, pages 116–121 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by chronic inflammatory process that targets the synovial lining of diarthrodial joints. Programmed death 1 (PD-1) plays a key role in the negative regulation of the immune response. In the current study, we investigated the expression of PD-1 on peripheral CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in RA patients. Percentage of PD-1+ cells was measured by flow cytometry in 82 RA cases and 90 healthy controls. Results showed that PD-1 expression was significantly decreased in both peripheral CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in RA (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively). Similarly, serum levels of soluble PD-1 were also downregulated in RA cases. When comparing PD-1 level in RA patients with different clinical parameters, patients with positive C-reactive protein (CRP) revealed lower proportion of PD-1 on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells than those with negative CRP. Also, disease activity score of RA patients was inversely correlated with PD-1 expression on peripheral CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. These data suggested that PD-1 may act as a negative regulator in the pathogenesis and progression of RA.

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No competing financial interests exist.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedics, Shandong Qianfoshan Hospital, 16766 Jing Shi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China

    Shufeng Li, Meng Chen, Shiying Shan & Zhen Yuan

  2. Department of Orthopedics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China

    Wensheng Liao

  3. Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250100, China

    Yuanlin Song & Shuzhen Zhang

  4. Department of Internal Medicine, Emergency Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University, 150 Jimo Road, Shanghai, 200120, China

    Haihan Song

  5. Haihan Song at Emergency Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

    Haihan Song & Zhen Yuan

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  1. Shufeng Li
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  2. Wensheng Liao
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  3. Meng Chen
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  4. Shiying Shan
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  5. Yuanlin Song
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  6. Shuzhen Zhang
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Correspondence to Zhen Yuan.

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Shufeng Li and Wensheng Liao contributed equally to this work.

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Li, S., Liao, W., Chen, M. et al. Expression of Programmed Death-1 (PD-1) on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Inflammation 37, 116–121 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10753-013-9718-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10753-013-9718-8

KEY WORDS

  • programmed death-1
  • T cells
  • rheumatoid arthritis