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Altered expression of TNFSF4 and TRAF2 mRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: association with atherosclerotic symptoms and lupus nephritis

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Abstract

Objectives

This study compares the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 4 (TNFSF4) and TNF-R-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) mRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) against healthy controls. The association of SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) and clinical features of SLE with altered expression levels of TNFSF4 and TRAF2 mRNAs were also evaluated.

Design

We used real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to measure TNFSF4 and TRAF2 mRNAs expression levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 57 SLE patients and 57 healthy controls.

Results

The expression level of TNFSF4 mRNA was significantly higher in SLE patients than in the control group. Overexpression of TNFSF4 was correlated with arthritis, atherosclerosis and lupus nephritis. TRAF2 mRNA was underexpressed in PBMCs of SLE patients, and its lower expression was associated with atherosclerosis and lupus nephritis. The altered expression levels of TNFSF4 and TRAF2 mRNAs was significantly correlated with SLEDAI.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that changes in the expression levels of TNFSF4 and TRAF2 mRNAs may significantly correlate with the pathogenesis of SLE, the disease activity and different clinical features of lupus, particularly lupus nephritis, atherosclerosis and arthritis.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a research grant from Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Peyman Rajabi, Mahsa Alaee & Ali Samadikuchaksaraei

  2. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P. O. BOX: 19395-5731, Tehran, Iran

    Kazem Mousavizadeh & Ali Samadikuchaksaraei

Authors
  1. Peyman Rajabi
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  2. Mahsa Alaee
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  3. Kazem Mousavizadeh
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  4. Ali Samadikuchaksaraei
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kazem Mousavizadeh.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: John Di Battista.

P. Rajabi and M. Alaee contributed equally to this work.

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Rajabi, P., Alaee, M., Mousavizadeh, K. et al. Altered expression of TNFSF4 and TRAF2 mRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: association with atherosclerotic symptoms and lupus nephritis. Inflamm. Res. 61, 1347–1354 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00011-012-0535-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00011-012-0535-6

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