BACKGROUND: Efficient indicators for evaluating the imbalance of lymphocyte function were crucial to clinical therapy in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. This study aimed to find biomarkers to assess lymphocyte-mediated immune response in SLE patients. METHODS: A total of 81 SLE patients (non-active: n = 35, active: n = 46) and 70 healthy donors were recruited in the study. Peripheral blood was obtained, and flow cytometry was used to detect circulating lymphocytes. RESULTS: Data showed that the counts of CD3 CONCLUSION: This study indicated that monitoring the alterations of circulating lymphocyte counts and surface molecules may be helpful to assess disease activity of SLE patients, even discriminate active and non-active patients, which was beneficial to choose the best treatment option in clinical therapy.