Abnormal telomerase activity and telomere length in T and B cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Abstract

In patients with SLE, many T cells divide continuously. Their telomerase activity was higher than that in control T cells, but not so high as to prevent telomere shortening. In contrast, B cells do not divide abnormally in the inactive phase of SLE, but divide rapidly in the active phase.