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. 2012 May;166(5):971-5.
doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2012.10825.x.

The interferon-regulated gene signature is elevated in subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus and discoid lupus erythematosus and correlates with the cutaneous lupus area and severity index score

I Braunstein  1 , R Klein, J Okawa, V P Werth
Affiliations

The interferon-regulated gene signature is elevated in subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus and discoid lupus erythematosus and correlates with the cutaneous lupus area and severity index score

I Braunstein et al. Br J Dermatol. 2012 May.

Abstract

Background: There is increased expression of type I interferon (IFN)-regulated proteins in the blood and target tissues of patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Patients with SLE have increased IFN-regulated gene expression pointing towards a possible underlying genetic defect.

Objectives: To determine expression levels of five type I IFN-regulated genes that are highly expressed in SLE in the peripheral blood of patients with CLE and to correlate the expression levels with cutaneous disease activity.

Methods: Peripheral blood was obtained from 10 healthy controls and 30 patients with CLE, including eight with concomitant SLE. Total RNA was extracted and reverse transcribed into complementary DNA. Gene expression levels were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Gene expression was normalized to GAPDH, standardized to healthy controls and then summed to calculate an IFN score for each patient. Disease activity was assessed with the Cutaneous Lupus Area and Severity Index (CLASI).

Results: Patients with subacute CLE (SCLE) and discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) had elevated IFN scores compared with healthy controls regardless of concomitant SLE (P < 0·01 with SLE and P < 0·05 without SLE). There was no difference between patients with tumid lupus erythematosus (TLE) and healthy controls. The IFN score correlated with CLASI scores (Spearman's rho = 0·55, P = 0·0017).

Conclusions: Patients with SCLE and DLE have an IFN signature, as seen in SLE. The level of gene expression correlates with cutaneous disease activity. These findings support a shared pathogenesis between SLE and some subtypes of CLE.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no relevant conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE, n=12) and discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE, n=14 patients have significantly elevated interferon (IFN) scores as compared to healthy controls (HC, n=10). SCLE patients also have significantly elevated IFN scores as compared to patients with tumid lupus erythematosus (TLE, n=4) (* p<0.05). Patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus with concomitant systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE/CLE) are shown as red diamonds. Horizontal line shows median value and interquartile range. An asterix denotes p<0.05. Kruskal-Wallis, p=0.0016.
Figure 2
Figure 2
SCLE and DLE patients with and without SLE have an elevated interferon (IFN) score compared to healthy controls (HC) (p< 0.01 and p<0.05). There was no statistical difference between patients with SLE or DLE with SLE (SLE/CLE) and those without (DLE/SCLE). Horizontal line shows median value and interquartile range. One asterix denotes p<0.05 and two denote p<0.01. Kruskal-Wallis, p=0.0022.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The interferon (IFN) score correlates with Cutaneous Lupus Area and Severity Index (CLASI) activity score (Spearman’s Rho (r) = 0.55, p = 0.0017). Patients with CLE and concomitant SLE (SLE/CLE) are shown as red diamonds.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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