Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of systemic lupus erythematosus patients and its relationship with atherosclerosis.
BACKGROUND
Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) plays an important role in atherosclerosis. This study was to examine expression of MMP-1 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and to explore its relationship with atherosclerosis in SLE.


METHODS
Fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to examine the expression of MMP-1 mRNA in PBMCs in 80 SLE patients, including 39 prone to atherosclerosis (Group A) and 41 unprone to atherosclerosis (Group B). Meanwhile, 30 patients who were free of cardiovascular diseases and 30 healthy individuals were selected as disease and normal control group (Groups C and D). The changes of MMP-1 gene expression were analyzed by differences of cycle threshold (DeltaCt), with the following formula: DeltaCt = Ct(target) gene - Ct(reference) gene.


RESULTS
The expression level of MMP-1 mRNA in Group A was significantly higher than that of group B (DeltaCt = 8.64 +/- 2.43 vs DeltaCt = 12.09 +/- 2.26, t = 6.588, P < 0.01). The expression level of MMP-1 mRNA of SLE patients was significantly higher than that of Group C (DeltaCt = 10.41 +/- 2.90 vs DeltaCt = 12.29 +/- 2.51, t = 3.135, P < 0.01) and Group D (DeltaCt = 10.41 +/- 2.90 vs DeltaCt = 12.48 +/- 1.69, t = 3.675, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
In comparison to disease and control group, expression of MMP-1 mRNA in PBMCs of SLE patients was significantly elevated, and significant difference of MMP-1 mRNA expression was also found between SLE patients prone and unprone to atherosclerosis, indicating that expression of MMP-1 mRNA may be correlated with the pathogenesis and activity of atherosclerosis in SLE.
Zhang
Hai-ying
HY
Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Beijing Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
Bao
Shu-meng
SM
Shou
Wei-ling
WL
Luan
Hai-xia
HX
Zhang
Yang
Y
Feng
Xue
X
Tong
Da-wei
DW
Zhang
Shu-lan
SL
Hu
Chao-jun
CJ
Zeng
Xiao-feng
XF
Li
Yong-zhe
YZ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055815:Young Adult
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1