Interferon-inducible Gene Expression Signature in Peripheral Blood Cells of Patients with Severe Lupus

Overview

Journal Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Specialty Science

Date 2003 Feb 27

PMID 12604793

Citations 1006

Authors

Emily C Baechler

Franak M Batliwalla

George Karypis

Patrick M Gaffney

Ward A Ortmann

Karl J Espe

Katherine B Shark

William J Grande

Karis M Hughes

Vivek Kapur

Peter K Gregersen

Timothy W Behrens

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex, inflammatory autoimmune disease that affects multiple organ systems. We used global gene expression profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to identify distinct patterns of gene expression that distinguish most SLE patients from healthy controls. Strikingly, about half of the patients studied showed dysregulated expression of genes in the IFN pathway. Furthermore, this IFN gene expression "signature" served as a marker for more severe disease involving the kidneys, hematopoetic cells, and/or the central nervous system. These results provide insights into the genetic pathways underlying SLE, and identify a subgroup of patients who may benefit from therapies targeting the IFN pathway.

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