title: Genetic ancestry, serum interferon-α activity, and autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate and refine the relationships among systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and related autoantibodies, interferon-α (IFN-α), and various ancestral backgrounds.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated quantitatively defined genetic ancestry through principal component analysis in place of self-reported ancestry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  African ancestry was found to be associated with presence of anti-RNP antibody (p = 0.0026), and anti-RNP was correlated with high levels of IFN-α (p = 2.8 × 10(-5)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data support a model in which African ancestry increases the likelihood of SLE-associated autoantibody formation, which subsequently results in higher levels of serum IFN-α.
authors.affiliation: Section of Rheumatology, Gwen Knapp Center for Lupus Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Kichul
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Beverly S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Franek
authors.forename: Miranda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marion
authors.forename: Kenneth M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: Carl D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Langefeld
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Harley
authors.forename: Timothy B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Niewold
mesh_terms: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood*; D044383:Black People / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000097:blood*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009820:Ohio / Q000453:epidemiology; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D001741:Black or African American
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins