The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between the expression of B cell activating factor (BAFF) and BAFF receptor in patients with disease activity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Real-time RT-PCR was used to examine BAFF mRNA expression in peripheral blood monocytes of active and stable SLE patients and healthy controls. The percentage of BAFF receptor 3 (BR3) on B lymphocytes was measured by flow cytometry. Soluble BAFF levels in serum were assayed by ELISA. Microalbumin levels were assayed by an automatic immune analysis machine. BAFF mRNA and soluble BAFF levels were highest in the active SLE group, followed by the stable SLE group, and controls (P<0.01). The percentage of BR3 on B lymphocytes was downregulated in the active SLE group compared with the stable SLE group and controls (P<0.01). BAFF mRNA levels and soluble BAFF levels were higher in patients who were positive for proteinuria than in those who were negative (P<0.01). The percentage of BR3 on B lymphocytes was lower in patients who were positive for proteinuria than in those who were negative (P<0.01). The BAFF/BR3 axis may be over-activated in SLE patients. BAFF and BR3 levels may be useful parameters for evaluating treatment.

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AIM:To analyze the expression levels of soluble form of CD95, CD95 ligand (sCD95 and sCD95L, respectively) in plasma and CD95 expression on CD3 + cells in livertransplanted recipients with acute rejection (AR). METHODS:Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from 30 clinically liver transplanted recipients. CD95 expression on CD3 + cells was quantitatively measured by two-color fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis. Lymphocyte surface phenotypes of CD4, CD8, CD16 and CD56 were determined by flow cytometry. Plasma levels of sCD95 and sCD95L were detected by Enzyme Linked-Immuno-Sorbent Assay (ELISA). The results were compared with that from normal healthy volunteers (n = 15 individuals). respectively, P<0.01). In contrast, the plasma levels of sCD95L in liver-transplanted recipients were not significantly different from that in healthy individuals. RESULTS: CONCLUSION:The present results indicate that the increased CD95 expression on CD3 + cells and the increased levels of sCD95 in plasma may modify the immunological situation of the recipients after transplantation or represent the ongoing graft rejection.

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The present study showed that CD38(+)CD8(+) T cells can be an appropriate immunological marker for early detection and antiviral therapeutic monitoring of HCMV infection. The evaluation of CD95 molecule levels may be used routinely in clinical practice to assess the level of immunosuppression.