Fluctuations in the gene expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cells between the active and inactive phases of systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective The changes in the gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) associated with disease progression in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with their diseases activities were examined and genes related to the pathogenesis and/or disease activities of SLE were investigated. Methods Analyses of gene expression were performed by both DNA microarray and real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) methods. Results Nine known genes showing either significantly increased or decreased expression were detected between patients with active and inactive disease phases of SLE or normal volunteers. Conclusion Among these nine genes, three genes were related to interferon (IFN) regulatory factor and four genes associated with ribosomal proteins (RPs), and two genes were associated with genetic translation factor (GTF), respectively. These three gene groups appear to contribute to the pathogenesis and/or disease progression of SLE.