Expression of interferon regulatory factor 1, 3, and 7 in primary Sjögren syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to investigate the level of interferon regulatory factor (IRF) 1, 3, and 7 in peripheral blood cells from patients with primary Sjogren syndrome (pSS) and to determine whether and where IRF1 exists in the parotid glands of pSS.


METHODS
Peripheral blood cells and parotid gland biopsy specimens from patients with pSS were studied. The IRF1, IRF3, and IRF7 gene mRNA levels in peripheral blood cells were calculated by using real-time PCR. The IRF1-positive cells in the parotid glands with pSS were observed by using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Statistical analysis was performed by Student t test.


RESULTS
Compared with 24 control samples, the IRF1 mRNA levels in peripheral blood cells of 37 cases with pSS were up-regulated (P < .05), but the IRF3 and IRF7 mRNA levels of pSS were not up-regulated (P > .05). Relative quantitative levels of IRF1 mRNA were 2.17-fold higher in pSS patients than control subjects. The IRF1-positive cells of the pSS group were localized in the epithelial islands, lymphocytes, and ductal epithelial cells of the parotid glands. In all control subjects, the IRF1-positive cells were localized only to the ductal epithelial cells of parotid glands as determined by immunohistochemical staining or immunofluorescence. The scores of IRF1-positive cells of pSS were significantly higher than that of control samples (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that IRF1 mRNA levels are up-regulated in the peripheral blood cells of pSS patients. Also, IRF1-positive cells exist in the epithelial islands, lymphocytes, and ductal epithelial cells of the parotid glands of individuals affected by pSS, but are limited to the ductal epithelial cells of healthy control subjects.
Zheng
Lingyan
L
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Yu
Chuangqi
C
Zhang
Zhiyuan
Z
Yang
Chi
C
Cai
Xieyi
X
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D050856:Interferon Regulatory Factor-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D050838:Interferon Regulatory Factor-3 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D050839:Interferon Regulatory Factor-7 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
C494257:IRF1 protein, human; C494232:IRF3 protein, human; C494234:IRF7 protein, human; D050856:Interferon Regulatory Factor-1; D050838:Interferon Regulatory Factor-3; D050839:Interferon Regulatory Factor-7; D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger