title: Quantitative analyses of messenger RNA of human endogenous retrovirus in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) has emerged as a possible causative agent of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). To investigate the role of HERV in the etiology of SLE, we performed quantitative analyses of messenger RNA (mRNA) of the HERV clone 4-1 in patients with SLE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reverse transcriptase (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR; TaqMan methodology) were used in this experiment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The quantities of mRNA of the HERV clone 4-1 gag region in patients with SLE were significantly higher than in healthy controls, and the amounts of such mRNA in the patients were decreased by steroid treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These phenomena may be related to the production of viral components derived from HERV clone 4-1 and contribute to the pathogenesis of SLE; studies using a larger number of patients are required to confirm these points.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Ogasawara
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Naito
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Kaneko
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Hishikawa
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Sekigawa
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Hashimoto
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Kaneko
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Yamamoto
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Maruyama
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000821:virology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019914:Taq Polymerase
chemical_list: D015683:Gene Products, gag; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D019914:Taq Polymerase