Abstract: Objective To investigate the T cell clonality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods T cell clonality in peripheral blood lymphocytes from six patients with active SLE was analyzed using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)and GeneScan technique. Results T cell receptor (TCR)Vβ PCR products from two patients were derived from polyclonal T cells,however,TCR Vβ 9,Vβ 2,Vβ 1,Vβ 2 products from the other four patients were derived from oligoclonal T cells respectively. Conclusion T cells from patients with SLE demonstrated a striking oligoclnality and their clonal expansion may be a specific response driven by autoantigens.

Key words: Lupus erythematosus,systemic, Receptor,T-cell