Fig. 2.
Serum levels of VCAM-1 correlate with circulating plasma cell numbers in SLE. B-cell subsets were assessed by 10-colour flow cytometry of fresh blood samples from SLE patients. a Representative gating plots showing plasma cell gating (CD19midCD20−CD27hiCD38hiIgD−CD138hi). b Percentage of circulating plasma cells compared with SLE disease activity assessed by ECLAM score, serum sVCAM-1 level and ESR. sVCAM-1 levels were correlated against numbers of CD95+ activated B cells, CD95+CD27+ memory B cells and CD95+ plasmablasts (CD19midCD20−CD27hiCD38hiIgD−). sVCAM-1 levels were measured by ELISA. Statistical analysis by Pearson correlation. c Representative plots of CD95 and CD27 expression in B cells from SLE patients with low and high serum sVCAM-1 levels. d CD95 mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) in B-cell subsets in SLE patients grouped into low and high sVCAM-1 levels. Statistical analysis by unpaired t test. ECLAM European Consensus Lupus Activity Measure, ESR erythrocyte sedimentation rate, sVCAM-1 soluble vascular adhesion molecule-1