Circulating microparticle subpopulations in systemic lupus erythematosus are affected by disease activity

SLE patients, especially those with disease activity, displayed increased counts of MPs derived from platelets, monocytes and T-lymphocytes, which were more frequently found in TNFαhigh-type patients. The origin of such SLE-MP subsets seems to be related to the over-activated status of T-cells and monocytes characteristic of these patients. Ex vivo and in vitro analyses propose a role of glucocorticoids in the generation of circulating MPs and leukocyte activation in SLE patients.