Enhanced propensity of T lymphocytes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus to apoptosis in the presence of tumour necrosis factor alpha

Abstract

This study demonstrates that T lymphocytes in patients with SLE are more prone to apoptosis in the presence of TNFalpha than T lymphocytes from healthy controls. Defects in TNFalpha signalling pathways rather than distribution of TNF receptors (TNFRs) probably explain the enhanced apoptosis in SLE.