[Study on association of BAFF receptors gene expression and primary biliary cirrhosis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between expression level of B cell-activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF) receptor (BAFF-R) gene family and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC).

METHODS: With 18S rRNA as control, real-time fluorescent semi-quantification reverse transcriptional PCR was established, according to the difference of threshold cycles (DeltaCt) of target genes and 18S rRNA. B cell maturation antigen (BCMA), transmembrane activator and CAMI-interactor (TACI) and BAFF-R mRNA of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in 30 healthy people and 30 PBC patients were measured. The correlation between their gene expression levels and the concentrations of IgM, ALP and GGT was analyzed.

RESULTS: The relative expression level of BCMA mRNA in patients with PBC was 8.6 folds higher than that of control (P < 0.05). In contrast, PBC patients showed relatively lower TACI mRNA level than control. For BAFF-R mRNA, there was no significant difference between patients and control. The gene expression of BCMA showed a close correlation with IgM, GGT and ALP (all P < 0.01), while BAFF-R showed no significant correlation with them (all P > 0.05). The correlation between TACI and IgM was significant (P < 0.05), but not for GGT or ALP (both P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The gene expression of PBMCs in PBC patients is significantly elevated for BCMA and decreased for TACI, indicating that the pathogenesis of PBC is closely related to enhanced humoral immunity and broken tolerance.