What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to explore the relationship between CD39 expression and disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus. It focuses on CD4-positive T lymphocytes and Tregs.

March 10, 2026Open Access

CD39 Expression in Peripheral CD4+ T Lymphocytes Is Associated With Disease Activity in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Key Points

The study aims to explore the relationship between CD39 expression and disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus. It focuses on CD4-positive T lymphocytes and Tregs.
Analyzed peripheral blood samples from 108 SLE patients divided into active and low-activity groups.
Measured proportions and absolute numbers of CD4-positive T cells and Tregs using flow cytometry.
Examined associations of CD39 expression levels in T cells with SLE disease activity.
Assessed CD39 as a potential biomarker for SLE activity using ROC curve analysis.
The active SLE group demonstrated higher percentages and counts of CD4-positive T cells than the low-activity group.
The active SLE group had lower counts of Tregs compared to the low-activity group.
CD39 expression levels were significantly higher in Tregs and CD4-positive T cells from the active SLE group.
A positive correlation was found between Treg quantity and CD39 expression on Tregs.
A negative correlation was noted between CD4-positive T cell quantity and CD39 expression on these cells.

Abstract

Objective Regulatory T cells (Tregs) and CD4‐positive T cells are crucial for the immunological control of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). As a crucial component of the adenosine metabolism pathway, CD39 influences the development and functionality of several immune system lymphocyte subsets, such as CD4‐positive T cells and Tregs. The purpose of this study was to examine the connection between the activity of SLE disease and the numbers of Tregs and CD4‐positive T lymphocytes, as well as the expression levels of the CD39 molecule on these cells. Methods One hundred and eight SLE patients had peripheral blood drawn. The patients were split into two distinct categories: the SLE active group and the SLE low‐activity group, depending on the illness activity. Using flow cytometry, the proportions and absolute numbers of CD4‐positive T cells and Tregs, as well as the expression of CD39 on these cells, were measured. Their associations with SLE disease activity were examined. Last, CD39 was assessed as a possible biomarker for the activity of SLE illness. Results Compared to the SLE low‐activity group, the SLE active group’s peripheral blood had a larger percentage and quantity of CD4‐positive T cells. In contrast, it was discovered that the SLE active group had fewer Tregs overall, both in terms of percentage and quantity, than the SLE low‐activity group. Compared to those in the SLE low‐activity group, patients in the SLE active group exhibited noticeably greater levels of CD39 expression in both Tregs and CD4‐positive T cells. Additionally, this study showed a favorable correlation between the percentage and absolute quantity of Tregs and the expression level of CD39 on Tregs. On the other hand, there is a negative correlation between the percentage and absolute quantity of CD4‐positive T cells and the expression level of CD39 on these cells. Furthermore, CD39 is a possible biomarker that could help in the identification of SLE disease activity, according to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve research. Conclusion According to this study, CD4‐positive T cells’ surface CD39 molecule serves a similar purpose to Tregs’, namely immunological suppression. Therefore, a subpopulation of T cells with immunosuppressive properties is defined by CD4+CD39+ T lymphocytes, which may be a more accurate marker for differentiating disease activity in SLE.

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