Glucocorticoid receptor, nuclear factor kappaB, activator protein-1 and C-jun N-terminal kinase in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

OBJECTIVE: Due to the crucial role of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB), activator protein-1 (AP-1) and c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in regulating inflammatory mediators and immune responses, we investigated their potential role in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Whole cell and nuclear extracts from peripheral blood lymphocytes, isolated from 25 SLE patients and 25 controls, were immunoblotted using GR, p65/NFkappaB, c-fos and JNK1 antibodies. The electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) assessed GR, NFkappaB and AP-1-DNA binding in nuclear aliquots. Associations with the disease state and the doses of corticosteroids administered were studied.

RESULTS: (i) SLE patients had lower GR-DNA binding (p < 0.001), NFkappaB-DNA binding (p < 0.001) and whole cell c-fos (p < 0.01) but higher nuclear NFkappaB (p < 0.01). (ii) SLE patients and controls had similar AP-1-DNA binding, nuclear c-fos, GR and JNK, whole cell GR, NFkappaB and JNK. (iii) No differences were detected between active and non-active SLE or high- and low-dose corticosteroid patients. (iv) In SLE, increases in GR-DNA binding were associated with increases in NFkappaB-DNA binding (p < 0.0001), and increases in nuclear JNK were associated with increases in AP-1-DNA binding (p < 0.01). (v) In controls, increases in GR-DNA binding were associated with increases in AP-1-DNA binding (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: We suggest disturbed GR, NFkappaB, AP-1 and JNK signaling in SLE, characterized by a reduced GR- and NFkappaB-DNA binding, a significant association between GR-mediated and NFkappaB-driven pathways, and a significant correlation between nuclear JNK- and AP-1-driven pathways. These disturbances may contribute to abnormal cytokine production and the etiopathogenesis of SLE.