Association of IRF5 polymorphisms with activation of the interferon alpha pathway.
OBJECTIVE
The genetic association of interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) susceptibility has been convincingly established. To gain understanding of the effect of IRF5 variation in individuals without SLE, a study was undertaken to examine whether such genetic variation predisposes to activation of the interferon alpha (IFNalpha) pathway.


METHODS
Using a computer simulated approach, 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes of IRF5 were tested for association with mRNA expression levels of IRF5, IFNalpha and IFN-inducible genes and chemokines in lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) from individuals of European (CEU), Han Chinese (CHB), Japanese (JPT) and Yoruba Nigerian (YRI) backgrounds. IFN-inducible gene expression was assessed in LCLs from children with SLE in the presence and absence of IFNalpha stimulation.


RESULTS
The major alleles of IRF5 rs13242262 and rs2280714 were associated with increased IRF5 mRNA expression levels in the CEU, CHB+JPT and YRI samples. The minor allele of IRF5 rs10488631 was associated with increased IRF5, IFNalpha and IFN-inducible chemokine expression in CEU (p(c)=0.0005, 0.01 and 0.04, respectively). A haplotype containing these risk alleles of rs13242262, rs10488631 and rs2280714 was associated with increased IRF5, IFNalpha and IFN-inducible chemokine expression in CEU LCLs. In vitro studies showed specific activation of IFN-inducible genes in LCLs by IFNalpha.


CONCLUSIONS
SNPs of IRF5 in healthy individuals of a number of ethnic groups were associated with increased mRNA expression of IRF5. In European-derived individuals, an IRF5 haplotype was associated with increased IRF5, IFNalpha and IFN-inducible chemokine expression. Identifying individuals genetically predisposed to increased IFN-inducible gene and chemokine expression may allow early detection of risk for SLE.
Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. orullo@mednet.ucla.edu
Ornella J
OJ
Rullo
Jennifer M P
JM
Woo
Hui
H
Wu
Alice D C
AD
Hoftman
Paul
P
Maranian
Brittany A
BA
Brahn
Deborah
D
McCurdy
Rita M
RM
Cantor
Betty P
BP
Tsao
D000483:Alleles; D018925:Chemokines / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000235:genetics*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics
D018925:Chemokines; C431713:IRF5 protein, human; D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012333:RNA, Messenger