Peripheral blood leukocyte double strand RNA-dependent protein kinase gene expression in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus / 中华内科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the expression of the double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) gene in the peripheral blood leukocyte of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE),and to evaluate the relationship between the gene expression and the disease activity.Methods The clinical data of 100 SLE patients,40 non-SLE patients with rheumatic diseases,and 40 normal controls were collected.Total RNA was extracted from the peripheral blood and then reverse transcribed into cDNA.Sybr green dye based real-time quantitative PCR method was used to compare the expression levels (indicated as 2-△Ct value) of PKR in the three groups.Results (1) The 2-△Ct value of PKR expression level in the SLE patients was (14.69 ± 7.62),which was significantly higher than those in the non-SLE patients (5.09 ±4.73,P =0.012) and normal controls (4.79 ± 3.49,P =0.005).(2) The 2-△Ct value of PKR expression level in the SLE patients with severe activity was (22.57 ±2.61),which was significantly higher than those in the SLE patients with mild activity and no activity(12.94±2.41,P =0.000 ;8.85 ± 2.17,P =0.000).(3) The 2 △Ct value of PKR expression level in the SLE patients with lupus nephritis was significantly higher than that in the SLE patients without lupus nephritis (16.85 ± 7.32 vs 8.35 ± 2.04,P =0.034).(4) The 2-△Ct value of PKR was correlated with the systemic lupus erythematosus index(SLEDAI) scores(r =0.32,P =0.000),WBC (r =0.46,P =0.000),Hb (r =-0.22,P =0.035),the quantitation of urine protein in 24 hours (r =0.21,P =0.000),HDL-C (r =0.21,P =0.022),and anti-RNP antibody (rs =-0.21,P =0.025).Conclusions The expression of PKR in the SLE patients is up-regulated,especially in those with severe activity.The expression level of PKR gene is associated with SLE disease activity.