title: Hypomethylation of interleukin 6 correlates with renal involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze peripheral blood interleukin 6 (IL-6) methylation status and its clinical significance in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples from 41 adult patients with SLE, and 20 healthy controls were collected. The methylation status of IL-6 was determined by methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP). The IL-6 expression was detected by real-time PCR. Correlations between IL-6 methylation status and clinical features or laboratory findings in patients with SLE were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The methylation status and expression of IL-6 in peripheral blood could reflect the level in peripheral blood mononucleated cells (PBMCs) of SLE. Significantly positive correlation was found between IL-6 hypomethylation and renal disorder. Interleukin 6 hypomethylation was found negatively correlated with serum C3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The detection of IL-6 methylation status in peripheral blood could reflect the status in PBMC with SLE. Interleukin 6 may play a role in renal disorder with SLE patients. Interleukin 6 could be considered as a new biomarker for predicting SLE flare.
authors.affiliation: Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong PR China ; Department of Rheumatology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China.
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaojun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China.
authors.forename: Jinghua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China.
authors.forename: Weinian
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhixiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China.
authors.forename: Fangfei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cai
keywords: hypomethylation; interleukin-6; peripheral blood; systemic lupus erythematosus