title: Deficiency of IRE1 and PERK signal pathways in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with uncertain pathogenesis. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has close correlations with inflammation and/or immune diseases. However, it is unknown whether aberrant ER stress is involved in SLE pathogenesis. We aimed to characterize the ER stress-related genes in patients with SLE and analyzed their correlations with the disease. Peripheral blood leucocytes were isolated from 76 well-characterized patients with SLE and 69 healthy controls. ER stress-related genes were determined at transcription level by absolute quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Stepwise regression and correlation analysis were used to analyze the relationships between SLE disease and ER stress. Abnormal unfolded protein responses were found in patients with SLE with the downregulation of inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1), pancreatic ER kinase (PERK) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) and upregulation of XBP1, XBP1s and MANF. In the patients with SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) <12, PERK and MANF expressions were significantly decreased, compared with the patients with severe SLE (SLEDAI ≥ 12). However, there was no significant change in ATF6 mRNA expression in the patients with SLE. Negative correlation between IRE1/XBP1 and SLEDAI was observed in lower SLEDAI score group. Negative correlations between CHOP and anti-dsDNA antibody, MANF and antinuclear antibody were observed in high-SLEDAI score group. We also found that antinuclear antibody and anti-dsDNA antibodies correlated with SLEDAI in a weak positive manner. SLEDAI was negatively related with C3 level. SLEDAI and anti-dsDNA antibody showed modestly positive correlation with urine protein. These findings suggest that the abnormal unfolded protein responses, especially IRE1/XBP1 and PERK/CHOP axes, may contribute to SLE pathogenesis, which may be potential diagnosis indicators or treatment targets.
authors.affiliation: School of Basic Medical Sciences (JW, QC, XW, YS, YS), Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Institute of Biopharmaceutics (JW, QC, XW, YS, YS), Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Rheumatism Immunity Branch of Xuzhou Central Hospital (BZ), Xuzhou, China; First Affiliated Hospital (JX, YX, XZ), Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; School of Pharmacy (QC), Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; and School of Public Health (JW), Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
authors.forename: Jiajia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qiyao
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Beibei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zu
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yuanhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xianbo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: Yujun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yuxian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D059865:Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D004722:Endoribonucleases / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000071701:Regulatory Factor X Transcription Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D051742:Transcription Factor CHOP / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D000071717:X-Box Binding Protein 1; D055815:Young Adult; D019892:eIF-2 Kinase / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C497249:DDIT3 protein, human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C099695:MANF protein, human; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000071701:Regulatory Factor X Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000071717:X-Box Binding Protein 1; C000605543:XBP1 protein, human; D051742:Transcription Factor CHOP; C460640:EIF2AK3 protein, human; C528229:ERN1 protein, human; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D019892:eIF-2 Kinase; D004722:Endoribonucleases