Novelli L, et al. - A total of 16 healthy subjects (HSs) and 33 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) female candidates were examined to delineate the expression of CD44v3/v6 on T cells of SLE cases and also to evaluate their relationship with clinical characteristics. Researchers recorded a higher expression of CD44v3 on CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in active subjects when compared to HSs. A higher CD44v3 on CD8⁺ T cells was also noted in active patients vs cases in remission. They found CD44v6 on CD4⁺ T cells as the most sensitive and specific one with a specificity of 81.8% and sensitivity of 75% in a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. They observed the correlation of expression of CD44v6 on CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells with the SLEDAI-2K. They also recorded an association of CD44v6 and CD44v3 on CD8⁺ T cells with nephritis and arthritis.