[Study on association of BAFF receptors gene expression and primary biliary cirrhosis].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationship between expression level of B cell-activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF) receptor (BAFF-R) gene family and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC).


METHODS
With 18S rRNA as control, real-time fluorescent semi-quantification reverse transcriptional PCR was established, according to the difference of threshold cycles (DeltaCt) of target genes and 18S rRNA. B cell maturation antigen (BCMA), transmembrane activator and CAMI-interactor (TACI) and BAFF-R mRNA of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in 30 healthy people and 30 PBC patients were measured. The correlation between their gene expression levels and the concentrations of IgM, ALP and GGT was analyzed.


RESULTS
The relative expression level of BCMA mRNA in patients with PBC was 8.6 folds higher than that of control (P < 0.05). In contrast, PBC patients showed relatively lower TACI mRNA level than control. For BAFF-R mRNA, there was no significant difference between patients and control. The gene expression of BCMA showed a close correlation with IgM, GGT and ALP (all P < 0.01), while BAFF-R showed no significant correlation with them (all P > 0.05). The correlation between TACI and IgM was significant (P < 0.05), but not for GGT or ALP (both P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The gene expression of PBMCs in PBC patients is significantly elevated for BCMA and decreased for TACI, indicating that the pathogenesis of PBC is closely related to enhanced humoral immunity and broken tolerance.
Liang
Yan
Y
Department of Laboratory Diagnostics and Clinical Immunology Center of PLA, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China.
Yang
Zai-Xing
ZX
Zhu
Ye
Y
Wang
Yan
Y
Zeng
Xian-Ming
XM
Deng
An-Mei
AM
Zhong
Ren-Qian
RQ
D000328:Adult; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D053265:B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor / Q000235:genetics*; D053301:B-Cell Maturation Antigen / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D053303:Transmembrane Activator and CAML Interactor Protein / Q000235:genetics; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D053265:B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor; D053301:B-Cell Maturation Antigen; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053303:Transmembrane Activator and CAML Interactor Protein; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase