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
Inflammation Research, 08/08/2012
Rajabi P et al. – The results suggest that changes in the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 4 (TNFSF4) and TNF–R–associated factor 2 (TRAF2) mRNAs may significantly correlate with the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the disease activity and different clinical features of lupus, particularly lupus nephritis, atherosclerosis and arthritis.
Methods- The authors 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.
- 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.
