الفهرس 
AcknowledgementOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 218 |  |  |
| | | from | 218 | | |
Abstract
There is clear evidence that CD4+CD25hiFOXP3+ naturally-occurring regulatory T cells (nTregs) are important component of the immune system in controlling autoimmunity. This study was conducted to (i) determine the percentage of CD4+CD25hiFOXP3+ nTregs in pediatric patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), (ii) detect the association between the percentage of these cells and the clinical parameters of the studied children with SLE, (iii) assess anti-dsDNA serum levels in SLE patients, and (iv) determine the correlation between the percentage of these cells and anti-dsDNA serum levels in pediatric patients with SLE. Thirty children with new-onset SLE were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to their disease activity based on SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI). Further 24 children were included as a control group. Significantly, a lower percentage of CD4+CD25hiFOXP3+ nTregs was detected in children with active SLE compared to those with inactive disease [0.89 ± 0.17% versus 1.39 ± 0.47%, p = 0.02], and control subjects [0.89 ± 0.17% versus 2.98 ± 0.62%, p = 0.0001]. A significant increase in CD4+CD25hiFOXP3+ nTregs percentage was detected after corticosteroid therapy [p = 0.0001], but with no significant difference between patients with active and inactive disease [p >0.05]. No correlation was detected between the percentage of CD4+CD25hiFOXP3+ nTregs and the clinical parameters of SLE in pediatric patients, except for arthritis. Anti-dsDNA antibodies were detected in 93.3% of SLE patients (637.85 ± 312.52 IU/ml).The frequency of CD4+CD25hiFOXP3+ nTregs was inversely correlated with serum levels of anti-dsDNA, with a statistically significant difference.