Interferon-induced protein 44 (IFI44) and interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) gene expression in rheumatoid arthritis

• Published in: Journal of immunoassay & immunochemistry 2024-09, Vol.45 (5), p.432-451
• Main Authors: Elsayed Ramadan Genena, Shaimaa, Hamouda, Maha A. f., Salama, Norhan M., Zahran, Enas S., Abdel Latif, Asmaa A., Dawood, Ashraf A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antigens; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - diagnosis; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - genetics; Autoimmune diseases; Autoimmunity; Case-Control Studies; Cytoskeletal Proteins; Diagnosis; Female; Gene expression; Gene regulation; Genes; Humans; IFI44; Interferon; Interferon regulatory factor; Interferon regulatory factor 4; Interferon Regulatory Factors - genetics; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - genetics; IRF4; Male; Middle Aged; PCR; Proteins; Real time; Regulatory mechanisms (biology); Rheumatoid arthritis; Statistical analysis
• ISSN: 1532-1819; 1532-4230; 1532-4230
• DOI: 10.1080/15321819.2024.2381524

The type I interferon (IFN) signature has been found to be overactivated in many systemic autoimmune diseases. This may be explained by impaired regulation of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) as well as interferon-induced protein 44 (IFI44) expression via their regulatory mechanisms via interferon regulatory factors (IRFs). This case-control study includes two groups: 50 RA patients and 50 healthy controls. The quantification of IFI44 and IRF4 expression levels by the real-time PCR technique was estimated. Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS-28) was estimated for RA patients only. Among the RA patients, there were statistically significant increased ESR, CRP, TLC, RF, and anti-CCP levels (p value