The expression levels of interferon inducible genes in peripheral blood cells and their correlation with clinical features in human systemic lmpus erytbematosus / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To correlate the expression levels of interferon inducible genes (IFIGs) with disease activity and clinical features in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patiems,.Methods Peripheral blood cells obtained from 67 SLE patients and 23 healthy donors (HDs) were subjected to real-time PCR to measure the transcriptional levels of five IFIGs (OAS-1,Mx-1,Ly6e,IFIT1 and IFIT4).Interferon scores were calculated and were compared between various groups of SLE patients as well as between patients and controls;ISRE lucife:rase reporter gene activity was measured in 17 of 67 patients and correlated with interferon score.Results Interferon scores were strongly correlated with ISRIE reporter gene aetivity,which represented for the type Ⅰ interferon activity in serum.The expression.levels of IFIGs and jinterferon scores were significantly elevated in SLE patients compared with HDs (P＜0.0001).Interferon scores were correlated positively with SLEDAI-2K(P=0.0006) and negatively with C3 levels(P=0.0162).Interferon scores were also significantly elevated in SLE patients with a positive anti-Sm or anti-RNP autoantibodies.Clonclusion The interferon score may be regarded as a good indicator for serum type I interferon activity in SLE and serves as a new hiomarker for disease activity in SLE patients.

Chemokine score is a novel biomarker for lupus patients with active diseases and organ damages / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To correlate the chemokine score with disease activity,organ damages and clinical features in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.Methods Peripheral blood cells obtained from 60 SLE patients,20 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and 23 healthy donors (HDs) were subjected to real-time PCR to measure the transcriptional levels of seven chemokines (RANTES,MCP-1,CCL19,MIG,IP-10,CXCL11,and IL-8).Chemokine scores were calculated and were compared between various groups of SLE patients as well as between patients and controls.Results Chemokine scores were significantly elevated in SLE patients compared with RA patients and HDs (P=0.0112 and P=0.0019,respectively).Chemokine scores were correlated positively with SLEDAI (P=0.0061) and negatively with C3 levels (P=0.003).Compared to patients without lupus nephritis (LN),chemokine scores were elevated in SLE patients with active LN,especially when their daily prednisone dosage was less than 30 mg (P=0.0418 and P=0.002,respectively).Chemokine scores were also associated with cumulative organ damage (SLICC damage index [SDI]＞0) and positive anti-Sm and anti-RNP autoantibodies.Conclusion The chemokine score may serve as a new biomarker for disease activity and organ damage in SLE patients.