Objective To investigate the alteration of NKT cells number in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its correlation with SLE disease activity.Methods Blood samples were obtained from 30 patients with SLE and 30 healthy control subiects.The number of NKT cells from peripherial blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were detect by flow cytometry (FCM).Two independent samples t-test and Pearson correlation was used to evaluated the relationship between SLE disease activity and NKT cells.Results Compared with healthy controls [(4.16±0.22)%],lower number of NKT cells were found in SLE group[(2.53±0.33)%](P<0.05).An inverse correlation was observed between the frequency of NKT cells and IgG,anti-dsDNA,SLE disease activity index.Conclusion Reduced proportions of NKT cells observed in patients with SLE and is associated with high SLE disease activity.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interstitial lung involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).Methods We evaluated the serum levels of VEGF by ELISA in patients with active SSc and normal controls,and the correlation between VEGF and the vital capacity diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide of the lung.Results The serum levels of VEGF in patients with SSc (363 ?178) ng/L was significantly higher than that in normal controls (183?59) ng/L (P