ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect serum prolactin (PRL) level in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its correlations to SLE activity and interleukin-6 (IL-6) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>An electrochemiluminescence assay was employed to examine the serum content of PRL in 40 SLE patients and 20 healthy subjects, and the levels of IL-6 secretion by the PBMCs were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>SLE patients showed a significantly higher serum level of PRL than healthy subjects, which was especially obvious in the active stage of the disease (P=0.000. Serum PRL in SLE patients was found to positively correlate to SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) (r=0.568, P=0.000). SLE patients with hyperprolactinemia showed a significantly higher level of IL-6 secretion by the PBMCs than those with normal serum PRL level (P=0.000). IL-6 secretion by the PBMCs isolated from SLE patients with normal PRL level and from healthy controls, especially the latter, increased significantly after stimulation of the cells with recombinant human PRL in vitro (P=0.000).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Serum PRL may play a role in the pathogenesis of SLE. An elevated PRL level is closely related to SLE activity and can be used to assess SLE activity. Increased serum PRL level can up-regulate the secretion of IL-6 by the PBMCs.</p>
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Case-Control Studies , Interleukin-6 , Blood , Leukocytes, Mononuclear , Bodily Secretions , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic , Blood , Prolactin , BloodABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association between 1858C/T single nucleotide polymorphism on exon 14 of the protein tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor-22 (PTPN22) gene and systemic lupus erythematosus in Chinese Han patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty Chinese Han patients with SLE and 20 normal control subjects were enrolled in the study, and PTPN22 gene 1858 C/T polymorphisms were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No significant difference was found in the CC, CT, and TT genotype frequencies or in the C and T allele frequencies between the SLE patients and the normal controls.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>1858C/T on PTPN22 gene might not be associated with the susceptibility of SLE in Chinese Han population.</p>
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Asian People , Genetics , Case-Control Studies , Exons , Gene Frequency , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Genotype , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic , Genetics , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 22 , GeneticsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of transcription factors T-bet and GATA-3 in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression of T-bet and GATA-3 mRNA in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 60 patients with SLE and 20 normal control subjects were detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the normal controls, T-bet mRNA expression decreased whereas GATA-3 mRNA expression increased significantly in patients with SLE, active SLE and inactive SLE.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The high expression of GATA-3 promotes the immature T cells to differentiate into Th2 cells, induces Th2 cells to secrete the cytokines IL-6 and IL-10, which, along with the low expression of Th1 as a result of T-bet expression inhibition, causes B cell activation to produce a large quantity of autoantibodies, leading finally to multiple organ injuries. Effective regulation of GATA-3 expression may provide a new clue for the treatment of SLE.</p>
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Case-Control Studies , GATA3 Transcription Factor , Genetics , Metabolism , Leukocytes, Mononuclear , Metabolism , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic , Blood , RNA, Messenger , Genetics , Metabolism , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , T-Box Domain Proteins , Genetics , MetabolismABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of prolactin on CD40 and CD154 expressions on the surface of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and explore the role of prolactin in the pathogenesis of SLE.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The serum prolectin level was detected in 30 SLE patients and 20 healthy volunteers, from whom peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were also isolated to examine the expressions of CD40 and CD154 using flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CD154 significantly increased on the PBMCs in SLE patients with high serum prolectin level in comparison with that in patients with normal prolactin level or the normal controls (P<0.05). When the PBMCs were incubated with recombinant human prolactin, CD154 expression was significantly increased in SLE patients with normal serum prolactin level (P<0.05), but not in the normal control group (P>0.05). Incubation of the PBMCs in the presence of bromocriptine did not result in significantly decreased CD154 expression in SLE patients irrespective of the prolactin level, nor was significant difference found in CD40 expression on the surface of PBMCs between SLE patients and the normal controls(P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Prolactin plays an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE by increasing CD154 expression on the PBMCs, and bromocriptine produces no significant inhibitory effect on either endogenous or exogenous prolectin.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , CD40 Antigens , Metabolism , CD40 Ligand , Metabolism , Case-Control Studies , Gene Expression Regulation , Leukocytes, Mononuclear , Metabolism , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic , Blood , Metabolism , Pathology , Prolactin , Blood , PharmacologyABSTRACT
Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT) in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus.Methods Nine patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were enrolled in this study.Patients were given cyclophosphamide and granu- locyte colony-stimulating factor(G-CSF)as the mobilization regimen.Urine was alkalinized and hydrolyzed to protect the function of the heart,liver and kidney of the patients.A CS3000 Plus blood cell separator was used to collect peripheral blood stem cells,which were preserved in liquid nitrogen.Two to five days before the administration of the stem cells,the patients were pretreated with intravenous injection of cyclophos- phamide (50 mg?kg~(-1)?day~1) for 4 consecutive days and antithymocyte globulin (ATG,2.5 mg?kg~(-1)?day~1) for 3 consecutive days.Granulocytes were recoverd by G-CSF stimulation.Then,the peripheral blood stem cells were reinfused.Therapeutic effect was evaluated by assessment of alteration of clinical manifestation (skin erythema),levels of proteinuria and antoantibodies,hematopoietic reconstitution and occurrence of transplantation related complications.Results After transplantation,all patients had been successfully en- grafted.The time for peripheral leucocyte count to reach 1.0?10~9/L was 7～15d;the time for platelets to reach 20?10~9/L was 0～21 d.The skin erythema resolved in all patients;proteinuria decreased to normal level and the autoantibodies became negative in most of the patients.Serum sickness-like response occurred in all patients,renal and heart failure in 1 patient,hemorrhagic cystitis in 3 patients,psychiatric disorders in 1 patient,candidal infection in 1 patient.Conclusion One-year follow up suggests that autologous stem cell transplantation is markedly effective and relatively safe for systemic lupus erythematosus.However,the duration of remission remains to be investigated in a long-term follow up study.