title: Sex differences in genomics in lupus: girls with systemic lupus have high interferon gene expression while boys have high levels of tumour necrosis factor-related gene expression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic disease occurring up to 15 times more frequently in females than males. This bias extends to possible differences in disease flares and response to therapy. This study was initiated to investigate the differences between girls and boys with childhood-onset SLE (cSLE) at the molecular level.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed the Gene Expression Omnibus National Center for Biotechnology Information (GEO NCBI) microarray data available for 88 girls and 16 boys with treatment-naïve cSLE and compared the results to those from healthy controls. Transcriptional profiles were generated using the platforms of Affymetrix U133A and U133B gene chips and Bioconductor/R programming packages were used to process and compare the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Girls with cSLE overexpressed an interferon (IFN)-α signature that was absent in boys. Boys with cSLE were observed to overexpress tumour necrosis factor-related genes that were absent in girls. Both boys and girls were observed to overexpress several genes related to granulopoeisis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest a potential application of genomics to differentially predict response to therapy between females and males with SLE.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Cohen Children's Medical Center , North Shore-Long Island Jewish Hospital , New York , USA.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hui-Yuen
authors.affiliation: b Departments of Dermatology, Molecular Genetics and Molecular Biology , Columbia University Medical Center , New York , USA.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Christiano
authors.affiliation: c Division of Rheumatology, New York-Presbyterian Hospital , Columbia University Medical Center , New York , USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Askanase
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000293:Adolescent; D000941:Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D051606:G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 1 / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D023281:Genomics; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000235:genetics*; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D016014:Linear Models; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D054623:Receptor-Like Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases, Class 2 / Q000235:genetics; D012737:Sex Factors; D063267:Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 1 / Q000235:genetics; D056825:Thyroxine-Binding Globulin / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D059467:Transcriptome; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000941:Antigens; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C065888:IFI44 protein, human; C468762:IFI6 protein, human; C484290:IFIT1 protein, human; C116468:IFIT3 protein, human; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; C400022:NARF protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C534944:SERPINA7 protein, human; C571166:SIGLEC1 protein, human; D063267:Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 1; C000606148:TMEM59 protein, human; C115051:TP63 protein, human; D056825:Thyroxine-Binding Globulin; D014157:Transcription Factors; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D007372:Interferons; D051606:G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 1; C496764:GRK1 protein, human; C090899:PTPRD protein, human; D054623:Receptor-Like Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases, Class 2