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PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
3
pubmed:dateCreated
2002-7-22
pubmed:abstractText
Much of the pathology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is caused by deposition of immune complexes (ICs) into various tissues, including renal glomeruli. Because clearance of ICs depends largely on early complement component C1q, homozygous C1q deficiency is a strong genetic risk factor in SLE, although it is rare in SLE patients overall. In this work we addressed the issue of whether genetic polymorphisms affecting C1q levels may predispose to SLE, using the (NZB x NZW)F(1) model. C1q genes are composed of three genes, C1qa, C1qc, and C1qb, arranged in this order, and each gene consists of two exons separated by one intron. Sequence analysis of the C1q gene in New Zealand Black (NZB), New Zealand White (NZW), and BALB/c mice showed no polymorphisms in exons and introns of three genes. However, Southern blot analysis revealed unique insertion polymorphism of a total of approximately 3.5 kb in the C1qa upstream region of NZB mice. C1q levels in sera and culture supernatants of LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophages and C1q messages in spleen cells were all lower in disease-free young NZB and (NZB x NZW)F(1) mice than in age-matched non-autoimmune NZW and BALB/c mice. Quantitative trait loci analysis using (NZB x NZW)F(1) x NZW backcrosses showed that NZB microsatellites in the vicinity of the C1q allele on chromosome 4 were significantly linked to low serum C1q levels and the development of nephritis. These data imply that not only C1q deficiency but also regulatory region polymorphisms down-regulating C1q levels may confer the risk for lupus nephritis by reducing IC clearance and thus promoting IC deposition in glomeruli.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Aug
pubmed:issn
0022-1767
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
1
pubmed:volume
169
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1334-9
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2002
pubmed:articleTitle
C1q regulatory region polymorphism down-regulating murine c1q protein levels with linkage to lupus nephritis.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Pathology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't