title: [Expression of BATF, a member of the activator protein-1 family, in renal tissues of MRL/lpr mice].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of BATF, a member of the activator protein-1 family, in the renal tissues of mice with lupus nephritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The renal tissues from 24-week-old female MRL/lpr mice and age- and sex-matched C57BL/6 mice were examined for BATF protein expressions using Western blotting and for expressions of BATF, RORγt and IL-17A mRNA using quantitative real-time PCR. The results of laboratory examinations were analyzed in relation with the histopathology of the mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The urinary protein and ds-DNA levels were significantly higher in MRL/lpr mice than in the control mice (P<0.05). Compared to normal control mice, MRL/lpr mice showed obvious glomerular fibrosis and inflammatory cell infiltrating with significantly increased BATF protein and mRNA expressions (P<0.05) and RORγt and IL-17 mRNA expressions in the renal tissues (P<0.05). In MRL/lpr mice, the expression of BATF mRNA was positively correlated with the RORγt and IL-17A mRNA expressions in the renal tissues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The renal expressions of BATF protein and mRNA is increased in MRL/lpr mice. BATF may participate in the immunopathogenesis of lupus nephritis by enhancing Thl7 cell response.
authors.affiliation: Department of dermatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. E-mail: woshipengyusheng@126.com.
authors.forename: Yusheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Menglei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Can
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Kuan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Kang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050976:Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D005260:Female; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism*; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000473:pathology; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D019463:Mice, Inbred MRL lpr; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D050976:Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; C431772:Batf protein, mouse; D020381:Interleukin-17; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C539901:Rorc protein, mouse