Interferon-induced protein 44 (IFI44) and interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) gene expression in rheumatoid arthritis

• Published in: Journal of immunoassay & immunochemistry Vol. 45; no. 5; pp. 432 - 451
• Main Authors: Elsayed Ramadan Genena, Shaimaa, Hamouda, Maha A. f., Salama, Norhan M., Zahran, Enas S., Abdel Latif, Asmaa A., Dawood, Ashraf A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 02.09.2024; Marcel Dekker, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Antigens; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - diagnosis; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - genetics; Autoimmune diseases; Autoimmunity; Case-Control Studies; Cytoskeletal Proteins; Diagnosis; Female; Gene expression; Gene regulation; Genes; Humans; IFI44; Interferon; Interferon regulatory factor; Interferon regulatory factor 4; Interferon Regulatory Factors - genetics; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - genetics; IRF4; Male; Middle Aged; PCR; Proteins; Real time; Regulatory mechanisms (biology); Rheumatoid arthritis; Statistical analysis; Autoimmunity; IFI44; IRF4; PCR
• ISSN: 1532-1819; 1532-4230; 1532-4230
• DOI: 10.1080/15321819.2024.2381524

The type I interferon (IFN) signature has been found to be overactivated in many systemic autoimmune diseases. This may be explained by impaired regulation of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) as well as interferon-induced protein 44 (IFI44) expression via their regulatory mechanisms via interferon regulatory factors (IRFs). This case-control study includes two groups: 50 RA patients and 50 healthy controls. The quantification of IFI44 and IRF4 expression levels by the real-time PCR technique was estimated. Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS-28) was estimated for RA patients only. Among the RA patients, there were statistically significant increased ESR, CRP, TLC, RF, and anti-CCP levels (p value < 0.001) and significant increased expression of the IFI44 and IRF4 genes (p value < 0.001). There was a significant positive correlation between the IFI44 and IRF4, and there was a significant correlation between both and ESR and anti-CCP among RA patients. At a cutoff point of 1.95, IFI44 shows higher sensitivity and specificity values than IRF4 for the diagnosis of RA. IFI44 was more sensitive for RA diagnosis than IRF4. IFI44 and IRF4 overexpression could be promising predictors of RA diagnosis and might become useful clinical tools to guide therapeutic strategies.