Currently, multiple studies have indicated that CD8+ T lymphocytes play a role in causing damage to the exocrine glands through acinar injury in primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS). The aim of this research was to assess the imbalance of circulating CD8+ T cell subsets. We analyzed blood samples from 34 pSS patients and 34 healthy individuals as controls. We used flow cytometry to enumerate CD8+ T cell maturation stages, using as markers CD62L, CD28, CD27, CD4, CD8, CD3, CD45RA and CD45. For immunophenotyping of ‘polarized’ CD8+ T cell subsets, we used the following monoclonal antibodies: CXCR5, CCR6, CXCR3 and CCR4. The findings revealed that both the relative and absolute numbers of ‘naïve’ CD8+ T cells were higher in pSS patients compared to the healthy volunteers. Conversely, the proportions of effector memory CD8+ T cells were notably lower. Furthermore, our data suggested that among patients with pSS, the levels of cytotoxic Tc1 CD8+ T cells were reduced, while the frequencies of regulatory cytokine-producing Tc2 and Tc17 CD8+ T cells were significantly elevated. Simultaneously, the Tc1 cell subsets displayed a negative correlation with immunoglobulin G, rheumatoid factor, the Schirmer test and unstimulated saliva flow. On the other hand, the Tc2 cell subsets exhibited a positive correlation with these parameters. In summary, our study indicated that immune dysfunction within CD8+ T cells, including alterations in Tc1 cells, plays a significant role in the development of pSS.

Currently, multiple studies have indicated that CD8+ T lymphocytes play a role in causing damage to the exocrine glands through acinar injury in Primary Sjogren’s syndrome (pSS). The aim of this research was to assess the imbalance of subsets within CD8+ cells in peripheral blood. We examined blood samples from 34 patients with pSS and 34 healthy individuals as controls. We used flow cytometry to enumerate CD8+ T cell maturation stages using as markers CD62L, CD28, CD27, CD4, CD8, CD3, CD45RA, and CD45. For immunophenotyping of ‘polarized’ CD8+ T cell subsets we used the following monoclonal antibodies:CXCR5, CCR6,CXCR3 and CCR4. The findings revealed that both the relative and absolute numbers of 'naïve' CD8+ T cells were higher in pSS patients compared to the healthy volunteers. Conversely, the proportions of effector memory CD8+ T cells were notably lower. Furthermore, our data suggested that among patients with pSS, the levels of cytotoxic Tc1 CD8+ T cells were reduced, while the frequencies of regulatory cytokine-producing Tc2 and Tc17 CD8+ T cells were significantly elevated. Simultaneously, the Tc1 cell subsets displayed a negative correlation with immunoglobulin G, Rheumatoid factor, the Schirmer test, and unstimulated saliva flow. On the other hand, the Tc2 cell subsets exhibited a positive correlation with these parameters. In summary, our study indicated that immune dysfunction within CD8+ T cells, including alterations in Tc1 cells, plays a significant role in the development of pSS.

Background. Lymphocyte subsets in autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and primary Sjogren’s syndrome (pSS), have been intensively studied in recent years. However, their clinical and diagnostic significance has not been finally determined.The aim of the study – to investigate features and diagnostic utility of B cell subcets in systemic lupus erythematosus and primary Sjogren’s syndrome.Material and methods. A total of 27 SLE patients, 41 pSS patients and 49 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Phenotyping of blood B cell subpopulations was carried out by means of flow cytometry. All peripheral blood B cells were identified by using CD19 antibody, detection of subpopulations of B cells based on expression of IgD, CD38, CD27. Statistical analysis was carried out using Statistica v. 12.0 (StatSoft Inc., USA). The absolute and relative values of B lymphocyte subpopulations were evaluated using three main classifications: based on IgD and CD38 co-expression, IgD and CD27 co-expression as well as CD38 and CD27 co-expression. For comparison of quantitative traits, the Mann – Whitney U-test and Kruskal – Wallis test were used. Method of discriminant analysis was performed to evaluate diagnostic utility of B cell subsets.Results. The most significant discriminant model was obtained using the relative values of all subpopulations.In this model the top significance was documented while assessing the percentage of «unswitched» memory В-cells (IgD^dimCD27^dim), «naive» (IgD^dimCD38^low) and activated «naive» B cells (IgD^dimCD38^dim), germinal center progenitor B cells (IgD^hiCD38^hi), germinal center B cells (IgD^dimCD38^hi) and «transient» B cells (CD27^lowCD38^hi), model percent correct was 75.2% (p<0.05). During ROC analysis, performed for the differential diagnosis of healthy and sick patients, this discriminant model had a sensitivity of 70.6% and a specificity of 85.7%, the area under the curve (AUC) – 0.91 (p<0.001). Among the group of ill patients, distinguishing between SLE and pSS showed a sensitivity of 81.5% and а specificity of 80.5%, AUC=0.84 (p<0.001).Conclusion. B cell subsets might provide an additional diagnostic tool to differentiate between SLE and pSS.

One of the methods of treating severe forms of systemic scleroderma is hematopoietic stem-cell autotransplantation (auto-HSCT). The article describes two clinical cases of auto-HSCT followed by rituximab (RTM) therapy in patients with diffuse systemic scleroderma with progressive interstitial lung disease (ILD), high immunological activity, high skin score, and an unfavorable prognosis. The assessment of the course of these diseases was carried out in the course of dynamic observation of patients for 10–11 years. In all cases, auto-HSCT followed by RTM made it possible to achieve remission / low activity, as well as to stabilize the progressive of ILD.

BACKGROUND: The possibility of using a diagnostic index based on the use of blood plasma objective indicators to differentiate the diagnosis of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, autoimmune and non-autoimmune thyroiditis is an urgent task for timely decision-making on the use of a particular type of therapy, taking into account the etiology of a particular pathology. Changing the ratio of blood plasma butyrylcholinesterase isoforms activity makes it possible to identify increased excitability, to separate them among themselves depending on the genesis, and during treatment, to assess the activity of diseases and the effectiveness of therapeutic measures. AIM: To develop a calculated diagnostic index for the differential diagnosis of diabetes and thyroiditis autoimmune type from symptomatically similar non-autoimmune pathologies, using the ratio of the plasma pseudocholinesterase isoforms activities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved 188 people: 45 patients diagnosed with type 1 diabetes; 60 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes; 25 patients diagnosed with autoimmune thyroiditis; 25 patients with non-autoimmune thyroiditis; the control group consisted of 33 healthy volunteers. The groups were aligned by gender and age. Patients of all groups were examined by an endocrinologist and a therapeutist. The diagnoses were made in accordance with the Clinical Guidelines of the Russian Endocrinologists Association for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Autoimmune Thyroiditis in Adults, as well as the Clinical Guidelines Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Adults. In the blood plasma of all patients groups, the activity of pseudocholinesterase (butyrylcholinesterase) forms was determined by analysis using a modification of the Ellmans method in combination with inhibitory analysis. The index was calculated based on the ratio of the studied enzyme typical and atypical forms activities. Based on the results of data analysis for all examined groups, diagnostic intervals were determined that are characteristic for each diagnosis, as well as for conditionally healthy people. Comparison of the patients distribution by categories of diagnosis was carried out using the -square test with Yates correction in the SPSS 22 statistical software package. RESULTS: The results of the blood plasma analysis determined that in the diagnoses of autoimmune thyroiditis and type 1 diabetes mellitus, there was an increase in the activity of increased activity of the butyrylcholinesterase isoform, while the activity of the atypical form remains more stable. The ratio of these forms was taken as the basis for the development of the calculated diagnostic index. Diagnostic index for the control group in the range of 12; for patients with non-autoimmune thyroiditis 2,12,9; autoimmune thyroiditis 33,5; type 1 diabetes mellitus 3,65; type 2 diabetes 01. Statistical analysis of the data showed that the diagnosis based on the index obtained in this way does not inferior to the diagnostic scales in terms of sensitivity and specificity. The findings are consistent with the evolution of data supporting each diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: The calculated index on the basis of butyrylcholinesterase activity is a promising, minimally invasive, fast and budgetary method, revealing a pronounced severity of occurrence in terms of symptoms, but different in etiology, type 1 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus, autoimmune thyroiditis and thyroiditis of a non-autoimmune nature, which is of critical importance when choosing a therapeutic strategy and improving the quality of life of patients.

Relevance. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by loss of immune tolerance and sustained production of autoantibodies.The aim of the study – to compare composition of peripheral blood cytotoxic CD8⁺ T lymphocytes (Tc) subsets and assess the clinical significance of them in systemic lupus erythematosus. Materials and methods. A total of 35 SLE patients and 49 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Phenotyping of peripheral blood T cell subpopulations was carried out by means of flow cytometry. T lymphocytes were determined using CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ antibodies. Tc were identified by using CD45RA and CD62L antibodies. Also the expression of chemokine receptors (CCR4, CCR6, CXCR3 and CXCR5) on Tc cells was assessed and the main Tc subpopulations were determined: Type 1 (Tc1), type 2 (Tc2), type 17 (Tc17), type 17/1 (Tc17.1), type 17/22 (Tc17.22) cytotoxic cells and T follicular cytotoxic cells (Tfc).Results. The absolute and relative number of Tc was significantly higher in the group of patients with SLE compared with the control group. Additionally, there was a significant decrease in the relative number of Tc1, Tc 17.1 and Tfc1 and a significant increase in the relative number of Tc2, Tfc 17 and Tfc17.1 within the SLE group when compared to the control group. There were significant positive correlationfor Tc1 and levels of C3 and C4 complement components (r=0.404, p<0.05).Conclusions. The absolute and relative number of peripheral blood Tc subsets is altered in SLE patients compared with the control group. It was found that patients with SLE contained increased number of Tc2 cells, which seems to be associated with markers of disease activity. These results demonstrate a prominent pathological role of Tc2 in SLE. While Tc1, Tc17, Tc17.1, Tfc subsets probably have regulatory functions