ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system abnormally reacts against cells and tissues leading to inflammation. Epigenetic alterations, including DNA methylation and histone modification, have critical effects on autoimmune disease and SLE pathogenesis via dysregulation of critical genes. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the epigenetic-related gene expression of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) and histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) in Iranian patients with SLE. METHODS: This matched case-control study included 16 people with SLE and 16 healthy people who were referred to the Rafsanjani rheumatology clinic, in southeast Iran. The expression of DNMT and HDAC1 genes was measured through a real-time PCR assay of blood samples. RESULTS: DNMT gene expression did not differ significantly between SLE and healthy groups (P=0.21). In contrast, HDAC1 gene expression was enhanced in the SLE group, but this enhancement failed to reach statistical significance (P=0.94). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that overexpression of HDAC1 could serve as a diagnostic for SLE disease. Additional studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm our findings. Evaluation of other genes related to SLE disease is essential and may help to make an accurate diagnosis of the disease.
Subject(s)
Epigenesis, Genetic , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic , Humans , Case-Control Studies , Gene Expression , Histone Deacetylase 1/genetics , Histone Deacetylase 1/metabolism , Iran , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/diagnosisABSTRACT
Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system abnormally reacts against cells and tissues leading to inflammation. Epigenetic alterations, including DNA methylation and histone modification, have critical effects on autoimmune disease and SLE pathogenesis via dysregulation of critical genes. Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the epigenetic-related gene expression of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) and histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) in Iranian patients with SLE. Methods: This matched casecontrol study included 16 people with SLE and 16 healthy people who were referred to the Rafsanjani rheumatology clinic, in southeast Iran. The expression of DNMT and HDAC1 genes was measured through a real-time PCR assay of blood samples. Results: DNMT gene expression did not differ significantly between SLE and healthy groups (P=0.21). In contrast, HDAC1 gene expression was enhanced in the SLE group, but this enhancement failed to reach statistical significance (P=0.94). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that overexpression of HDAC1 could serve as a diagnostic for SLE disease. Additional studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm our findings. Evaluation of other genes related to SLE disease is essential and may help to make an accurate diagnosis of the disease.(AU)
Antecedentes: El lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES) es una enfermedad autoinmune, en la cual el sistema inmunitario reacciona de manera anormal frente a las células y tejidos causantes de la inflamación. Las alteraciones epigenéticas, incluyendo la metilación del ADN y la modificación de la histona, tienen efectos críticos en la enfermedad autoinmune y la patogenia del LES, a través de la desregulación de los genes críticos. Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la expresión del gen relacionado con la epigenética de ADN metiltransferasa (DNMT) e histona deacetilasa 1 (HDAC1) en los pacientes iraníes afectados de LES. Métodos: Este estudio pareado caso-control incluyó 16 personas con LES y 16 personas sanas, derivadas a la clínica de reumatología de Rafsanjan, en el sudeste de Irán. La expresión de los genes DNMT y HDAC1 se midió mediante una PCR a tiempo real de muestras de sangre.Resultados: La expresión del gen DNMT no difirió significativamente entre los grupos de pacientes de LES y de controles sanos (p=0,21). Por contra, la expresión del gen HDAC1 se incrementó en el grupo LES, aunque dicho incremento no alcanzó significación estadística (p=0,94). Conclusión: Los resultados de este estudio sugieren que la sobreexpresión de HDAC1 podría servir para diagnosticar el LES. Son necesarios estudios adicionales con muestras de mayor tamaño para confirmar nuestros hallazgos. Es esencial la evaluación de otros genes relacionados con el LES, pudiendo ayudar a realizar un diagnóstico preciso de la enfermedad.(AU)
