Expression of CD154 (CD40L) on stimulated T lymphocytes in patients with idopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

Figures & data

Figure 1 CD154 expression on unstimulated CD4⁺T cells and stimulated CD4⁺T cells in representative normal control, non-immune thrombocytopenia patient, and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) patient. Lymphocytes (A) were gated in a side scatter (SS)/CD45 fluorescence dot plot, and then CD4⁺T cells (B) within indicated lymphocytes were isolated. Histogram displayed fluorescence intensity of CD154 on the X axis and CD4⁺CD154⁺T cells (C) were analyzed.

Table 1 Characteristics of ITP patients and controls

	Normal controls (n = 23)	Non-immune thrombocytopenia (n = 19)	ITP (n = 59)
Age (year)	55.7 ± 13.6	53.2 ± 18.3	55.8 ± 19.6
M:F	10:13*	9:10*	11:48
Platelet count (×10^3/μL)	241 ± 72**	62 ± 23**	39 ± 27
IPF (%)	1.8 ± 0.9**	4.7 ± 2.2**	10.9 ± 8.0
CD4T cells (%)	37.3 ± 8.0	36.7 ± 9.6	40.3 ± 9.3
CD4T cells (/μL)	767 ± 321	737 ± 338	789 ± 329

Data are expressed as mean ± SD. Significance compared to ITP patients (*P < 0.05, **< 0.001).

ITP, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura; IPF, immature platelet fraction.

Table 2 CD154 expression on CD4⁺T cells and serum soluble CD40 ligand in ITP patients and controls

Variables	Normal controls (n = 23)	Non-immune thrombocytopenia (n = 19)	ITP (n = 59)	PLT <50 × 10^3/μL (n = 43)	PLT ≥50 × 10^3/μL (n = 16)
CD154 positivity on CD4^+T cells (%)	59.6 ± 14.2	60.5 ± 12.5	62.6 ± 10.3	63.4 ± 10.7	60.6 ± 10.9
CD154 MFI on CD4^+T cells	2.27 ± 0.62	2.16 ± 0.65	2.23 ± 0.60	2.24 ± 0.61	2.19 ± 0.59
CD154 MFI on CD4^+CD154^+T cells	3.02 ± 0.77	2.96 ± 0.71	3.15 ± 0.62	3.21 ± 0.62	2.96 ± 0.61
sCD40L (ng/mL)	2.01 ± 1.46*	1.59 ± 1.05	1.47 ± 1.05	1.38 ± 1.06	1.73 ± 0.93

Data are expressed as mean ± SD. Significance compared to ITP patients with low platelet counts less than 50 × 10³/μL (*P < 0.05).

ITP, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura; PLT, platelet counts; MFI, mean fluorescence intensity; sCD40L, serum soluble CD40 ligand.

Table 3 Correlation of platelet counts and serum soluble CD40 ligand with other parameters in ITP patients

	Platelet counts		sCD40L
	R	P value	r	P value
IPF	−0.6251	<0.0001	−0.2031	0.12
CD4T cells (/μL)	0.1132	0.39	0.1427	0.28
CD154 positivity on CD4^+T cells (%)	−0.0073	0.58	0.0199	0.89
CD154 MFI on CD4^+T cells	−0.0058	0.66	0.0636	0.63
CD154 MFI on CD4^+CD154^+T cells	−0.1777	0.28	0.0214	0.91
sCD40L (ng/mL)	0.2203	0.09

ITP, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura; sCD40L, serum soluble CD40 ligand; IPF, immature platelet fraction; MFI, mean fluorescence intensity.