Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Blood gene expression of Toll-like receptors in SLE patients with lupus nephritis or neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors' conclusion
Our study revealed differences in TLR expression between a lupus cohort and healthy controls.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with SLE, including histologically confirmed active lupus nephritis (LN) or neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE), and healthy controls; TLR 1–10 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells
- Participants
- 74 vs 34
- Exposure
- SLE vs healthy controls; active LN or NPSLE vs SLE without these manifestations
- SLEn = 74
- Healthy controlsn = 34reference
- Outcome
- TLR mRNA expression, SLE vs healthy controls
Methodological detailscase-control comparison, RT-qPCR (SmartChip Real-Time-qPCR system), multivariate analysis and nonparametric statistics
- Case-control comparison
- RT-qPCR (SmartChip Real-Time-qPCR system)
- Multivariate analysis and nonparametric statistics
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
TLR4 expression (upregulated in SLE)
0.044 vs. 0.081
P = 0.012
SLE
TLR10 expression (downregulated in SLE)
0.009 vs. 0.006
P = 0.0007
SLE
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Estimate | P value |
|---|---|---|
| TLR expression, active LN vs no kidney involvement (increased in active LN)Active LN vs No kidney involvement | TLR2 expression 0.078 vs. 0.03 | P = 0.009 |
| TLR expression, active LN vs no kidney involvement (increased in active LN)Active LN vs No kidney involvement | TLR5 expression 0.035 vs. 0.017 | P = 0.03 |
| TLR expression, inactive LN vs control groupInactive LN vs Control group | TLR9 expression 0.014 vs. 0.009 | P = 0.01 |
| TLR expression, inactive LN vs control groupInactive LN vs Control group · borderline | TLR2 expression 0.04 vs. 0.03 | P = 0.06 |
| TLR expression in NPSLE (upregulated)NPSLE | TLR1 expression 0.088 vs. 0.048 | P = 0.01 |
| TLR expression in NPSLE (upregulated)NPSLE | TLR4 expression 0.173 vs. 0.066 | P = 0.0003 |
| TLR expression in NPSLE (upregulated)NPSLE | TLR6 expression 0.087 vs. 0.036 | 0.007 |
ROC analysis for active LN
- TLR1 and TLR2 expression were the best potential diagnostic markers for active LN
Correlation among TLRs
- Close relationships among the expression of individual TLRs in the whole lupus cohort and its subgroups
Original publication
Blood gene expression of Toll-like receptors in SLE patients with lupus nephritis or neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Res Ther. Published 26 February 2025. doi:10.
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