Changes in the expression of telomere maintenance genes might play a role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus

• Published in: Lupus 2011-07, Vol.20 (8), p.820-828
• Main Authors: Zhou, JG, Qing, YF, Yang, QB, Xie, WG, Zhao, MC
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aminopeptidases - genetics; Aminopeptidases - metabolism; Antigens, Nuclear - genetics; Antigens, Nuclear - metabolism; Cell growth; Dipeptidyl-Peptidases and Tripeptidyl-Peptidases - genetics; Dipeptidyl-Peptidases and Tripeptidyl-Peptidases - metabolism; Disease; DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Female; Hospitals; Humans; Immunology; Ki-67 Antigen - genetics; Ki-67 Antigen - metabolism; Ku Autoantigen; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - physiology; Lupus; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - genetics; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - pathology; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - physiopathology; Lymphocytes; Male; Medical schools; Middle Aged; MRE11 Homologue Protein; Pathogenesis; Proteins; Rheumatology; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Serine Proteases - genetics; Serine Proteases - metabolism; Telomerase; Telomerase - genetics; Telomerase - metabolism; Telomere - metabolism; Telomere-Binding Proteins - genetics; Telomere-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 1 - genetics; Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 1 - metabolism; Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 2 - genetics; Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 2 - metabolism; Yeast; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0961-2033; 1477-0962
• DOI: 10.1177/0961203310397964

Previous studies demonstrated that telomerase activity increased while telomere length shortened in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study aimed to examine the changes of telomere maintenance genes and their clinical significance in SLE. The mRNA level of telomeric proteins in PBMCs, including shelterin complex (TRF1, TRF2, POT1, TPP1, TIN2 and hRAP1), a set of multifunctional proteins involved in telomere maintenance (MRE11, KU80 and RPA1), and Ki67, was measured using real-time quantitative PCR in 56 SLE patients (36 treated and 20 untreated; 32 with renal involvement and 24 without renal involvement) and 46 healthy subjects (controls). The expression of TPP1, TIN2, POT1 and KU80 was significantly reduced while that of TRF2 and MRE11 increased in SLE patients (p  0.05, respectively). The expression of TRF2, MRE11 and Ki67 was much higher in untreated SLE patients than in controls or treated SLE patients (p