Objective To explore the expression of SLAM gene in the CD4

+

and CD8

+

T cells from SLE patients.   Method The CD4

+

and CD8

+

T cells from peripheral blood of 20 SLE patients and 10 healthy blood donors were separated using magnetic cell sorting system (MACS). We detected the expression of SLAM mRNA in CD4

+

and CD8

+

T cells by RT-PCR.   Results The CD4

+

and CD8

+

T cells from SLE patients showed significantly higher SLAM expression than those from healthy blood donors.   Conclusion The SLAM signal pathway may play an important role in contributing to the abnormal activation of T cells in SLE patients

.