Correlation between the percentage of memory T cells and IFN-γ level in patients with systemic lupus erythematous

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease with diverse clinical and autoantibodies expression. Immune senescence is mostly affect the adaptive immune system, characterized by decrease of naïve T cells and increase of memory T cells. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between percentage of memory helper T lymphocytes (CD4CD45RO+Th), memory cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CD8CD45RO+Tc) and IFN-γ serum levels in patients with SLE. Subjects were 61 female SLE patients, 16 -56 years old, from Rheumatology Clinic Dr. Saiful Anwar Hospital Malang (SLICC classification criteria, 2012). Severity of disease activity were assessed using MEXSLEDAI score, percentage of memory Th cells, memory Tc cells were examined using flow cytometry and IFN-γ serum level were measured by ELISA. The percentages of memory (CD4+CD45RO+) Th cells, memory (CD8+CD45RO+) Tc cells and IFN-γ levels were significantly higher in SLE patients with SLEDAI score > 5 compared with those having SLEDAI score <5 (p = 0.000; p = 0.000; p = 0.032). There were a positive correlation between percentages of memory (CD4+CD45RO+) Th cells (p = 0.003, r = 0.453) and memory (CD8+CD45RO+) Tc cell (p = 0.045, r = 0.284) with IFN-γ serum level. The percentage of memory T cells had a positive association with IFN-γ serum level.