title: Upregulation of the C/EBP β LAP isoform could be due to decreased TNFAIP3/TNIP1 expression in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to examine CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β (C/EBP β), TNF-alpha-induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3), and TNFAIP3-interacting protein 1 (TNIP1) expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients to assess their relationship in SLE pathogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  C/EBP β, TNIP1, and TNFAIP3 expression was assessed in PBMCs from 20 SLE patients and 20 controls by western blotting. The correlation between C/EBP β/TNFAIP3/TNIP1 expression and SLE disease activity was determined by Spearman's rank. C/EBP β, TNIP1, and TNFAIP3 levels in THP-1 cells, THP-1 cells transfected with plasmids encoding TNFAIP3 shRNA, and THP-1 cells infected with lentiviral vectors encoding TNIP1 shRNA were assessed by western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  C/EBP β LAP isoform expression was increased and LIP/TNFAIP3/TNIP1 expression was decreased in SLE patients. LAP expression was positively correlated with SLE disease activity; TNFAIP3 and TNIP1 expression was negatively correlated with SLE disease activity. LAP expression was increased in SLE patients with proteinuria and elevated anti-dsDNA antibody, as well as in THP-1 cells transfected with plasmids encoding TNFAIP3 shRNA and THP-1 cells infected with lentiviral vectors encoding TNIP1 shRNA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  C/EBP β/TNFAIP3/TNIP1 is associated with SLE activity. The upregulated expression of C/EBP β LAP could be caused by reduced TNFAIP3/TNIP1 expression.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University , Chongqing , P.R. China.
authors.forename: Tian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: b Department of Dermatology , Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University , Guilin , P.R. China.
authors.forename: Fangru
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: c Department of Dermatology , General Hospital of Shenyang Military Area Command , Shenyang , P.R. China , and.
authors.forename: Xiaowei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University , Chongqing , P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University , Chongqing , P.R. China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: d Department of Dermatology , Kunming General Hospital of Chengdu Military Region , Kunming , P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University , Chongqing , P.R. China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University , Chongqing , P.R. China.
authors.forename: Dongmei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D022782:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072598:Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha-Induced Protein 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D022782:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; C117046:TNIP1 protein, human; C076529:TNFAIP3 protein, human; D000072598:Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha-Induced Protein 3
keywords: Autoimmunity; CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β; SLE; TNF-alpha-induced protein 3; TNFAIP3-interacting protein 1