The expression of Ets-1 and Fli-1 is associated with interferon-inducible genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Japanese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Transcription factors E26 transformation-specific-1 (Ets-1) and Friend leukemia insertion site-1 (Fli-1) and type I interferon (IFN) have been implicated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We examined the expression of these genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from Japanese patients with SLE and analyzed their association with SLE. We enrolled 53 Japanese patients with SLE, 42 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and 30 healthy donors (HDs) (as controls) in this study. PBMCs were collected from all participants, and the expressions of Ets-1, Fli-1, and three interferon-inducible genes (IFIGs) (interferon-inducible protein with tetratricopeptide 1 [IFIT1], interferon-inducible protein 44 [IFI44], and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha kinase 2 [EIF2AK2]) were measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The relationships of each molecule with clinical symptoms, laboratory data, and treatments were analyzed. The expression of Ets-1 and Fli-1 was significantly lower in the PBMCs from patients with SLE than that in the PBMCs from patients with RA and HDs. The expression of the three IFIGs was significantly higher in the PBMCs from patients with SLE than that in the PBMCs from patients with RA and HDs. For patients with SLE, significantly positive correlations were found between Ets-1 and three IFIGs; a similar trend was observed between Fli-1 and IFIGs. IFIG expression in the PBMCs was significantly higher in patients with SLE than that in other participants, and the expression of Ets-1 and Fli-1 was positively associated with IFN expression. Therefore, it was suggested that Ets-1 and Fli-1 were associated with the pathophysiology of SLE by regulating the type I IFN pathway.