Down-regulation of expression of retinoid acid-related orphan receptor C (RORC) in systemic lupus erythematosus.
BACKGROUND
Retinoic acid-related orphan receptor C (RORC), the key factor orchestrating the transcription of genes encoding interleukin 17, plays a critical role in the regulation of inflammatory responses.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to analyze the expression of RORC in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of SLE especially in relation to disease activity and clinical and biochemical findings.


METHODS
The study included 24 patients with SLE and a control group of 18 healthy gender- and age-matched individuals. Evaluation of the level of expression of RORC mRNA was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
The results showed that patients with SLE had lower RORC gene expression levels compared with healthy subjects that were not correlated with disease activity. The down-regulation of RORC was significantly lower in patients with lupus nephritis in remission than active lupus nephritis and nonrenal patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that RORC plays a significant role in the dysregulated immune response associated with SLE. Deciphering the intricate regulatory network and the target genes of RORC will help unravel new specific treatments for SLE.
a Department of Clinical Pathology and.
Safaa M
SM
El-Karaksy
b Department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation , Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University , Cairo , Egypt , and.
Hala A
HA
Raafat
c Shoubra General Hospital , Cairo , Egypt.
Marianne Nabil Y
MN
Abadir
a Department of Clinical Pathology and.
Mariam Onsy F
MO
Hanna
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 / Q000097:blood*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis
D020381:Interleukin-17; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C539900:RORC protein, human
Autoimmunity; expression; interleukin 17; retinoic acid-related orphan receptor C; systemic lupus erythematosus