title: Interferon-inducible gene expression signature in peripheral blood cells of patients with severe lupus.
abstract: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex, inflammatory autoimmune disease that affects multiple organ systems. We used global gene expression profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to identify distinct patterns of gene expression that distinguish most SLE patients from healthy controls. Strikingly, about half of the patients studied showed dysregulated expression of genes in the IFN pathway. Furthermore, this IFN gene expression "signature" served as a marker for more severe disease involving the kidneys, hematopoetic cells, and/or the central nervous system. These results provide insights into the genetic pathways underlying SLE, and identify a subgroup of patients who may benefit from therapies targeting the IFN pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
authors.forename: Emily C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Baechler
authors.forename: Franak M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Batliwalla
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karypis
authors.forename: Patrick M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Gaffney
authors.forename: Ward A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Ortmann
authors.forename: Karl J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Espe
authors.forename: Katherine B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Shark
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Grande
authors.forename: Karis M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kapur
authors.forename: Peter K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Gregersen
authors.forename: Timothy W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Behrens
mesh_terms: D015536:Down-Regulation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008177:Lupus Vulgaris / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D007372:Interferons