Altered TNFAIP3 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis

The tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein-3 (TNFAIP3) gene functions in negative immunoregulation and its single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease. However, its expression level in immune cells from RA patients remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the expression of TNFAIP3 is changed in patients with RA. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis was used to determine TNFAIP3 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with RA and healthy controls. TNFAIP3 expression was decreased in RA patients compared with the healthy controls. The expression level of the TNFAIP3 gene negatively correlated with the RA score, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody levels and C-reactive protein levels. Furthermore, RA patients with positive results of anti-CCP antibodies had a lower expression of TNFAIP3 than those without anti-CCP antibodies. In conclusion, the present results suggest that the insufficient expression of the TNFAIP3 gene in PBMCs may correlate with the diagnosis of RA.