Dynamics of CD4+ and CD8+ Lymphocytic Inflammatory Infiltrates in Lupus Nephritis

Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Oct 7;25(19):10775. doi: 10.3390/ijms251910775.

Abstract

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a common clinical manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Our study aims to quantitatively analyze CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes in different areas and LN classes and describe a specific distribution pattern that is correlated with the severity of LN-specific lesions. In total, 53 LN renal biopsies were immunohistochemically investigated using anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 antibodies. T lymphocytes were counted in 3 areas, including intraglomerular, periglomerular, and interstitial regions. The severity of glomerular and tubulo-interstitial lesions was assessed using an original semi-quantitative algorithm based on the renal corpuscle score (RC_S) and the tubulo-interstitial score (TI_S). The number of CD8+ T lymphocytes was higher than that of CD4+ T lymphocytes in each of the three areas and in each LN class, showing statistically significant differences. ANOVA analysis of all LN classes showed significant differences between periglomerular and interstitial CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, respectively. Irrespective of location, the number of CD8+ T lymphocytes statistically correlates with the RC_S and the TI_S; no significant correlations were found between the number of CD4+ T lymphocytes and the RC_S and the TI_S for all three considered areas. Our data provide strong evidence supporting the major role of CD8+ lymphocytes in LN lesion progression, with CD4+ lymphocytes playing a limited role.

Keywords: CD4+ lymphocytes; CD8+ lymphocytes; SLE pathogenesis; lupus nephritis; systemic lupus erythematosus.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biopsy
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes* / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes* / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kidney / immunology
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Lupus Nephritis* / immunology
  • Lupus Nephritis* / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.