To evaluate telomerase activity as a marker of lymphocyte proliferation in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
CD19+, CD4+, and CD8+ lymphocytes were isolated from the peripheral blood of nine patients with SLE and nine healthy controls by means of magnetic bead-coupled antibodies and tested for telomerase activity with the TRAP assay.
Telomerase activity was significantly increased in CD19+ B cells from patients with SLE. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from lupus patients displayed increased mean telomerase activity, although the difference from normal controls did not reach statistical significance.
Increased telomerase activity in the B and the T cell lineage might indicate activation and proliferation of these lymphocytes.