GADD34 and Type I IFN Response Genes in SLE

GADD34 (Growth Arrest and DNA Damage inducible-protein) is a regulatory subunit of PP1 (phosphatase 1) phosphatase which dephosphorylates eIF2alpha (eucaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha subunit), representing a negative feedback loop of the unfolded protein response (UPR). Moreover, GADD34 is necessary for type I interferon (IFN) production in response to viral infection in murine models. We investigate here the expression of GADD34 in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), in which type I IFN has an important pathogenic role. We report a case-control study on GADD34 gene expression in PBMC (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) of SLE patients (n=60) and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (n=30). The level of GADD34 gene expression, as well as of type-I IFN response genes in PBMC is measured by quantitative PCR.