Upregulation of the C/EBP β LAP isoform could be due to decreased TNFAIP3/TNIP1 expression in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

AbstractObjectives: We aimed to examine CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β (C/EBP β), TNF-alpha-induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3), and TNFAIP3-interacting protein 1 (TNIP1) expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients to assess their relationship in SLE pathogenesis.Methods: C/EBP β, TNIP1, and TNFAIP3 expression was assessed in PBMCs from 20 SLE patients and 20 controls by western blotting. The correlation between C/EBP β/TNFAIP3/TNIP1 expression and SLE disease activity was determined by Spearman’s rank. C/EBP β, TNIP1, and TNFAIP3 levels in THP-1 cells, THP-1 cells transfected with plasmids encoding TNFAIP3 shRNA, and THP-1 cells infected with lentiviral vectors encoding TNIP1 shRNA were assessed by western blotting.Results: C/EBP β LAP isoform expression was increased and LIP/TNFAIP3/TNIP1 expression was decreased in SLE patients. LAP expression was positively correlated with SLE disease activity; TNFAIP3 and TNIP1 expression was negatively correlated...