Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41697499›Full record

ArticleClinical rheumatology2026

The role of double-negative T Cells in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus and the impact of glucocorticoid therapy.

Xiaozhen Zhao, Shipeng Li, Wenyu Gong, Jianghong Deng, Junmei Zhang, Xiaohua Tan, Chao Li, Weiying Kuang, Jiang Wang, Caifeng Li

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Article in Clinical rheumatology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

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0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Xiaozhen Zhao *Department of Rheumatology, Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, National Centre for Children's Health, Beijing, 100045, China.
Shipeng Li *Department of Rheumatology, Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, National Centre for Children's Health, Beijing, 100045, China.
Wenyu GongLaboratory of Hematologic Diseases, Hematology Center, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China.
Jianghong DengDepartment of Rheumatology, Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, National Centre for Children's Health, Beijing, 100045, China.
Junmei ZhangDepartment of Rheumatology, Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, National Centre for Children's Health, Beijing, 100045, China.
Xiaohua TanDepartment of Rheumatology, Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, National Centre for Children's Health, Beijing, 100045, China.
Chao LiDepartment of Rheumatology, Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, National Centre for Children's Health, Beijing, 100045, China.
Weiying KuangDepartment of Rheumatology, Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, National Centre for Children's Health, Beijing, 100045, China.
Jiang WangDepartment of Rheumatology, Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, National Centre for Children's Health, Beijing, 100045, China.
Caifeng LiDepartment of Rheumatology, Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, National Centre for Children's Health, Beijing, 100045, China. xueyuan19900320@sina.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2250-3659

Funding

Capital Medical University Natural Science Foundation PYZ24167R&D Program of Beijing Municipal Education Commission KZ202210025037
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveDouble-negative T cells (DNTs) are significantly elevated in autoimmune diseases and are thought to play an important role in inflammation. The purpose of this study was to explore their role in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE).

methodsDNTs, as well as T and B cell subsets in peripheral blood, were detected by flow cytometry in 78 patients, including 34 cSLE. Clinical and laboratory data of cSLE patients were collected to analyze the correlation between DNTs and these indices, including demographics: proportion of female patients and mean age (± SD); Organ involvement: presence of lupus nephritis, neuropsychiatric manifestations, and pulmonary involvement; Hematologic parameters: leukopenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia (WBC, Hb, and PLT counts); Autoantibody profiles: ANA, anti-dsDNA, and anti-Sm antibodies. The changes in DNT levels after glucocorticoid treatment were observed, and the effects of different doses of glucocorticoids on DNTs were analyzed.

resultsDNT levels were significantly increased in the peripheral blood of cSLE patients. DNTs were correlated with SLE disease activity, organ involvement, the production of autoantibodies, naive B cells, and plasmablasts. DNT levels increased after low-dose glucocorticoid treatment (9.12 ± 1.43 vs 14.24 ± 1.36, p < 0.01) but gradually decreased with increasing glucocorticoid doses (14.24 ± 1.36 vs 13.45 ± 1.51 vs 7.45 ± 1.01 vs 4.72 ± 1.20, p < 0.05). DNT levels significantly decreased from the fourth day of glucocorticoid pulse therapy.

conclusionDNT levels were positively correlated with disease activity in cSLE patients, and the effect of glucocorticoid dose on DNT levels varied. Key Points • DNT cells are significantly elevated in cSLE patients and correlate with disease activity, organ involvement, and autoantibody profiles. Low-dose glucocorticoids transiently increase circulating DNT levels, while higher doses progressively reduce DNT frequencies. DNT levels positively correlate with B-cell subsets, suggesting a potential role in autoantibody production in pediatric SLE. • Dynamic changes in DNTs may be influenced by glucocorticoid treatment.

Indexed as

GlucocorticoidsLupus Erythematosus, SystemicT-LymphocytesAdolescentAge of OnsetAutoantibodiesChildFemaleHumansMaleAutoantibodiesGlucocorticoidsDouble-negative T cellsGlucocorticoidSystemic lupus erythematosus

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.