RESEARCH - Gene on X chromosome plays critical role in SLE

April 7, 2009

Gene on X Chromosome Plays Critical Role in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Jacquelyn K. Beals, PhD

April 7, 2009 — A gene on the X chromosome has been identified as a

susceptibility factor for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an

autoimmune disease that occurs 10 times more often in women than in

men. This sex gap has been attributed to hormonal influences, but a

new study shows that an X-linked gene known as interleukin-1

receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK1) significantly influences 2 key

genetic loci for SLE development.

" The first demonstration of an X chromosome gene as a disease

susceptibility factor in human lupus raises the possibility that the

gender difference in rates may in part be attributed to sex chromosome

genes, " senior author Chandra Mohan, MD, PhD, professor, internal

medicine–rheumatic diseases, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences,

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, noted in a

university press release.

SLE patients produce antibodies to their own body tissues rather

foreign proteins. The result is chronic inflammation of a few or many

body tissues, including the heart, lungs, nervous system, skin,

kidneys, or joints. Viruses, some medications, ultraviolet light, and

specific genes are thought to contribute to development of SLE. Lupus

also occurs more frequently in Japanese and Chinese populations and in

blacks.

The present study, reported online March 27 in the Proceedings of the

National Academy of Sciences, was a collaboration among institutions

in the United States and Puerto Rico, Canada, South Korea, and the

United Kingdom. Test populations consisted of 5337 patients with

adult-onset SLE, 769 patients with childhood-onset SLE, and 5317

healthy control participants. Blacks, Asian-Americans,

Hispanic-Americans, and whites were represented in each group.

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Not an MD

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