Effect of OAZ signaling blocking through small interfering RNA on the production of anti-nuclear antibody in systemic lupus erythematosus / 中华风湿病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the role of OAZ gene in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythe-matosus (SLE) by using RNA interfering technique. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from SLE patients were collected. Each sample was equally divided into four groups for cell culture in 96 well plates. Specific siRNA for OAZ and GAPDH were concordantly added to the experimental group and the positive control group, while nonspecific siRNA was added to the negative control group and only culture medium was added to the Mock control group. Cells and supernatants were harvested after culturing for 72 hours, then RNA was extracted and reverse transcripted to cDNA. OAZ, Id1, Id2, Id3, Id4 mRNA expression levels were analyzed by using real-time PCR. Levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, IL-21, CCL2, ANA in the supernatant were tested by ELISA. Relationships between the expression levels of OAZ mRNA with levels of cytokines and ANA were analyzed. Results OAZ, Id1, Id2, Id3 gene mRNA expression levels (△Ct 12.5±1.4, 8.9±1.5, 4.3±0.8, 8.04±1.1) in the experimental group were significantly decreased comparing to those in the negative control group (△Ct 10.2±1.1, 6.5±1.2, 2.4±1.3, 6.2±1.2 respectively, P<0.05). Levels of IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-12, IL-21 and ANA in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the negative control group (P< 0.05), but level of CCL2 was higher than the negative control group (P<0.05). Difference of OAZ mRNA expression levels (△△Ct) between the experimental group and the negative control group was negatively correlated with changes of ANA, IL-21 levels, but positively correlated with changes of Th1/Th2, CCL2. Conclusion OAZ siRNA can effectively reduce the expression of genes involved in the OAZ signaling pathway in SLE. OAZ may lead to abnormal production of ANA via regulating Id genes and cytokines.