MCP-1/CCR2 axis is involved in the regulation of ?dT cells in lupus nephritis

?dT cells are important innate immune cells that are involved in the occurrence and development of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Lupus nephritis (LN) is a serious complication of SLE, characterized by the accumulation of immune cells (including ?dT cells) in the target organs to participate in the disease process. Therefore, clarifying how ?dT cells chemotactically migrate to target organs may be a key to developing therapeutic methods against LN. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect serum levels of chemokines in LN patients and healthy controls. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and flow cytometry were used to measure the expression of chemokine receptors on the surface of ?dT cells. The chemotactic migration ability of ?dT cells was detected by Transwell assay. Signalling pathway activation of ?dT cells was detected by Automated Capillary Electrophoresis Immunoassay and flow cytometry. The serum levels of chemokines, including monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in LN patients, were significantly increased. CCR2, the receptor of MCP-1, was also highly expressed on the surface of peripheral ?dT cells in LN patients. In addition, the exogenous addition of MCP-1 can enhance chemotactic migration of ?dT cells in LN patients. MCP-1 could activate STAT3 signalling in LN patients' peripheral ?dT cells. ?dT cells might participate in the pathogenesis of LN through MCP-1/CCR2 axis. This finding provides new opportunities for developing treatment methods against LN by targeting MCP-1/CCR2 axis.