Statistics analysis
SPSS 17.0 (SPSS, USA) was employed for data analysis. Student’s t-test, paired t-test, one-way ANOVA and Spearman rank correlation, respectively, were performed for statistical analysis as appropriate. P<0.05 indicated statistical significance.ResultsCD27+IgD+B cell amounts are significantly decreased in SLE patients
B cells were grouped into 4 subtypes according to CD27 and IgD levels, including naïve (CD27-IgD+), innate-like (CD27+IgD+), switched memory (CD27+IgD-) and double negative (CD27-IgD-) B cells (Figure 1A). To examine the function of CD27+IgD+B cells in SLE pathogenesis, their amounts were firstly compared between SLE and HC patients. The 50 HCs showed remarkably higher circulatory CD27+IgD+B cell amounts compared with the 50 individuals with SLE (Figure 1B and C).