Expression Of IFI16 And The JAK-STAT Pathway In Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Of Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Objective To investigate the expression of IFI16 and the function of JAK-STAT pathway in peripheral blood mononuclear cell of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE).Methods RT-PCR was performed to semiquantitatively analyze IFI16 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cell(PBMC) of 35 patients with SLE. The PBMC was cultured in vitro and the JAK-STAT pathway was blocked by AG490 and STAT3 decoy ODNs which was transfected to PBMC. Twenty-four hours later, IFI16 mRNA of the PBMC was detected with RT-PCR again.Results The mean level of IFI16 mRNA in active SLE group and inactive SLE group were much higher than that of normal control. The difference was significant(P<0.01). However there was no statistical difference between active and inactive SLE group(P>0.05). After JAK-STAT pathway was blocked by AG490, the IFI16 mRNA in active and inactive SLE group were remarkably decreased. The difference was significant(P<0.01).However, the difference was not significant in normal control(P>0.05). While, after being transfected by STAT3 decoy ODNs, the IFI16 mRNA in active and inactive SLE group were remarkably decreased comparing with negative controls, The difference was significant(P<0.05). However, the difference was not significant in normal control(P>0.05).Conclusions The expression of IFI16 mRNA in PBMC of patients with SLE was significantly higher than normal control. After blocking JAK-STAT pathway by AG490 and STAT3 decoy ODNs, IFI16 mRNA in PBMC of patients with SLE was remarkably decreased, However there was little change in control. IFI16 gene might be one of the susceptible genes of patients with SLE and the overexpression of IFI16 gene of patients with SLE might be mediated through JAK-STAT pathway.