Negative Correlation Between miR-326 and Ets-1 in Regulatory T Cells from new-Onset SLE Patients

To analyze the relationship between miR-326 and Ets-1 mRNA levels in Treg cells and clinical manifestations in patients with SLE and explore the role of miR-326 and Ets-1 in the pathogenesis and activity of SLE. Twenty-five new-onset SLE patients without treatment, twenty-eight inactive SLE patients (SLEDA ≤ 4) and twenty-two healthy controls were included in the present study. Clinical data of SLE patients were recorded. Treg cells were purified by MACS from 20 ml peripheral blood, in which the quantity of miR-326 and Ets-1 mRNA were assessed by real-time PCR. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 17.0. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the groups, The Spearman test was used for correlation analyses. Two-tailed p values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. 1.The level of miR-326 was significantly higher in Treg cells from SLE patients [1.98(0.592,6.148)] than that in healthy controls [0.921(0.345, 1.879)] (p = 0.032). The difference between new-onset SLE patients [6.192(0.673, 15.298)] and healthy controls was significant (p = 0.019). Significant difference of the miR-326 expression was found between new-onset SLE patients with serous cavity effusion and new-onset SLE patients without it(P<0.05). Significant positive correlation was found between the expression of miR-326 mRNA in Treg cells with CRP and anti-C1q antibody from new-onset SLE patients. 2. The level of Ets-1 mRNA was decreased in SLE patients [0.382(0.232, 0.572)] compared to healthy controls(p = 0.013). The difference was also found in new-onset SLE patients [0.222(0.125, 0.296)] while compared to healthy controls. Also, the level in new-onset SLE patients was lower than that in inactive SLE patients [0.482(0.398, 0.512)] (p = 0.001). 3. Negative correlation was found between miR-326 and Ets-1 mRNA expression in Treg cells from new-onset SLE patients (r = -0.583 p = 0.01). 4. There was no correlation of miR-326 or Ets-1 mRNA expression with SLEDAI. The increase of miR-326 expression in Treg cells from SLE patients may inhibit the expression of Ets-1 to participate in the pathological process of SLE.