Circulating naive and memory CD4+ T cells and metabolic syndrome in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: data from a primarily Mestizo population

Rheumatology (Oxford). 2015 Jul;54(7):1302-7. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keu434. Epub 2014 Nov 19.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether the proportions of naive and memory CD4(+) T cell are independently associated with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in patients with SLE.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in SLE patients seen at our rheumatology department between September 2013 and April 2014. CD4(+) T cell subpopulations were examined by flow cytometry. The association of MetS and CD4(+) T cell subpopulations was examined by Mann-Whitney U-test and by multivariable analysis, adjusting for all possible confounding variables.

Results: One hundred and seventeen patients were evaluated. Their mean age was 44.6 years (S.D. 12.6), 109 (93.2%) were female and all patients were Mestizo (mixed Caucasian and Amerindian ancestry). Fifty-two patients (44.4%) presented with MetS. Disease duration was 7.6 years (S.D. 6.8). The percentage of naive CD4(+) T cells was 25.0 (S.D. 12.7) and memory CD4(+) T cells was 66.7 (S.D. 13.2) and the memory:naive CD4(+) T cell ratio was 4.3 (S.D. 5.6). In multivariable analysis, the percentage of naive CD4(+) T cells was negatively associated with the presence of MetS [odds ratio (OR) 0.959 (95% CI 0.923, 0.997), P = 0.033], whereas the percentage of memory CD4(+)T cells and the memory:naive CD4(+) T cell ratio were positively associated with its presence [OR 1.040 (95% CI 1.003, 1.078), P = 0.031 and OR 1.238 (95% CI 1.041, 1.472), P = 0.016, respectively].

Conclusion: In the SLE patients studied, a lower percentage of naive CD4(+) T cells, a higher percentage of memory CD4(+) T cells and the memory:naive CD4(+) T cell ratio were independently associated with the presence of MetS. This association could reflect the impact of immunosenescence among SLE patients with cardiovascular morbidity.

Keywords: T lymphocytes; cardiovascular disease; metabolic syndrome; systemic lupus erythematosus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / classification
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / pathology*
  • Comorbidity
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Incidence
  • Indians, South American* / ethnology
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / epidemiology*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / ethnology
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / pathology
  • Male
  • Metabolic Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • Metabolic Syndrome / ethnology
  • Metabolic Syndrome / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Peru / epidemiology
  • Phenotype
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / classification
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / pathology*
  • White People* / ethnology