Seroprevalence of HSV-1, HSV-2, and VZV with the possible role of CD8+ cell in pathogenesis of Systemic lupus Erythematous

3 CAMB, FIBM (Med), FIBM (Rheum), Department of Rheumatology, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq Corresponding author: Raed Kadhim Naeem, Email: raaedkadhem@gmail.com Abstract Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is typically complex and multifactorial autoimmune disease.Viral infections, mainly latent, have been major environmental factor that induce autoimmune diseases in genetically predisposed people. Objectives: To investigate the association of HSV-1, HSV-2, and VZV Infection in SLE patients compared to the control group, and to assess the possible role of CD8+ cells in the pathogenesis of SLE and with the accompanied HSV-1, HSV-2, and VZV viral infections. Material and methods: Serum levels of HSV-1, HSV-2, and VZV antibodies in SLE patients and apparently healthy controls were determined by Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). And by using flow cytometry, the number and percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in SLE patients and healthy controls were determined. Results: A significant increase in seropositivity of HSV-1, HSV-2, and VZV IgG antibodies in SLE patients compared to control group. Also, a significant increase in the number of CD4+ and CD8+ compared to control group. Decrease in the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T cell was found in the patients with SLE.Moreover, a significant decrease in CD4/CD8 ratio with increased CD8 cells in SLE patients, especially in patients with high SLEDAI scores.VZV antibodies were found to be significantly associated with low disease activity (<0.05), while HSV-1 and HSV-2 did not show any association with disease activity SLEDAI. Moreover, VZV antibodies were found to be negatively associated with CD8 cells and positively associated with CD4/CD8 ratio in SLE patients.In the control group, HSV-1 was found to be associated with HSV-2 and VZV antibodies. Conclusion: Increased seropositivity of HSV-1, HSV-2, and VZV antibodies in SLE patients compared to control group.Also, an increase in CD8 count with reduced in CD4/CD8 ratio in SLE patients especially with high disease activity SLEDAI scores suggests that changes in T cell phenotype and CD8+ T cells activation are involved in the pathogenesis of SLE.