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. 2016 Mar;49(3):e4853.
doi: 10.1590/1414-431X20154853. Epub 2016 Feb 2.

Expression of BAFF and BR3 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

J H Duan  1 , Y Jiang  1 , H Mu  1 , Z Q Tang  1
Affiliations

Expression of BAFF and BR3 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

J H Duan et al. Braz J Med Biol Res. 2016 Mar.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between the expression of B cell activating factor (BAFF) and BAFF receptor in patients with disease activity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Real-time RT-PCR was used to examine BAFF mRNA expression in peripheral blood monocytes of active and stable SLE patients and healthy controls. The percentage of BAFF receptor 3 (BR3) on B lymphocytes was measured by flow cytometry. Soluble BAFF levels in serum were assayed by ELISA. Microalbumin levels were assayed by an automatic immune analysis machine. BAFF mRNA and soluble BAFF levels were highest in the active SLE group, followed by the stable SLE group, and controls (P<0.01). The percentage of BR3 on B lymphocytes was downregulated in the active SLE group compared with the stable SLE group and controls (P<0.01). BAFF mRNA levels and soluble BAFF levels were higher in patients who were positive for proteinuria than in those who were negative (P<0.01). The percentage of BR3 on B lymphocytes was lower in patients who were positive for proteinuria than in those who were negative (P<0.01). The BAFF/BR3 axis may be over-activated in SLE patients. BAFF and BR3 levels may be useful parameters for evaluating treatment.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. BAFF mRNA expression in PBMCs detected by real-time RT-PCR. A , Active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); B , inactive SLE; C , healthy controls. Upregulation of BAFF mRNA expression in PBMCs was 3.92±0.31, 2.58±0.31, and 1.72±0.36, respectively (P<0.05, Student-Newman-Keuls test).
Figure 2
Figure 2. Representative fluorescence-activated cell sorting dot plots of each experimental group. The expression rate of BAFF receptor 3 (BR3) on CD19+ B cells is shown in the three groups. SLE: systemic lupus erythematosus; HC: healthy control.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Representative plots of mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of BAFF receptor 3 (BR3) on CD19+ B cells in the three groups. SLE: systemic lupus erythematosus; HC: healthy control; M1: MFI of negative control; M2: MFI of positive BR3.
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