title: Expression of autophagy related genes mTOR, Becline-1, LC3 and p62 in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: To determine the expression of mTOR, Becline-1, LC3 and p62 in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and assess their relationship with disease activity and immunologic features. The expression of mTOR, Becline-1, LC3 and p62 was detected by RT-PCR in 81 SLE subjects and 86 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Data regarding demographics and clinical parameters were collected. Disease activity of SLE was evaluated according to the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score. Independent sample t-test was used to analyze the expression of mTOR, Becline-1, LC3, and p62 in the two groups. Pearson's or Spearman's correlation was performed to analyze their relationship with disease activity and immunologic features. The mean levels of Becline-1, LC3 and p62 mRNA were significantly higher in SLE patients than the controls (9.96×10-4vs 7.38×10-4for Becline-1 withP<0.001; 4.04×10-5vs 2.62×10-5for LC3 withP<0.001; 9.51×10-4vs 7.59×10-4for p62 withP=0.008). However, the levels of mTOR mRNA in SLE patients were not significantly different from that in controls. Correlation analysis showed that Becline-1, LC3 and p62 mRNA levels correlated positively with SLEDAI, IgG and ds-DNA, negatively with C3. Our results suggested that autophagosomes formation were activated and their degradation were blocked in SLE. Moreover, the maintenance of autophagy balance can improve disease activity and immune disorders in SLE patients.
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Rheumatology No. 1 Jianshe Road, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhen-Zhen
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Rheumatology No. 1 Jianshe Road, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jun-Jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Rheumatology No. 1 Jianshe Road, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Cong-Cong
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Rheumatology No. 1 Jianshe Road, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Man
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Rheumatology No. 1 Jianshe Road, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Sheng-Yun
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Rheumatology No. 1 Jianshe Road, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guan-Min
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Rheumatology No. 1 Jianshe Road, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhao-Hui
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Zheng
keywords: Becline-1; LC3; Systemic lupus erythematosus; autophagy; mTOR; p62