Gene profiling of Epstein-Barr Virus and human endogenous retrovirus in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of SLE patients: immune response implications

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 20236 - 11
• Main Authors: Lemus, Yesit Bello, Martínez, Gustavo Aroca, Lugo, Lisandro Pacheco, Escorcia, Lorena Gómez, Peñata, Eloína Zarate, Llanos, Nataly Solano, Bonfanti, Andrés Cadena, Acosta-Hoyos, Antonio J., Quiroz, Elkin Navarro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 30.08.2024; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/208; 631/250; 692/4022; 692/4023; Adult; B lymphocytes; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; B-Lymphocytes - virology; BZLF1 protein; Case-Control Studies; CD27 antigen; Cell surface; Comparative analysis; Cytokines - genetics; Cytokines - metabolism; Endogenous Retroviruses - genetics; Epstein-Barr virus; Epstein-Barr virus (EBV); Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - genetics; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - immunology; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - virology; Female; Gag protein; Gene expression; Gene Expression Profiling; Herpesvirus 4, Human - genetics; Herpesvirus 4, Human - immunology; Human endogenous retrovirus (HERV-E); Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Immune response; Interleukin 10; Leukocytes (mononuclear); Leukocytes, Mononuclear - immunology; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - metabolism; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - virology; LMP1 protein; Lupus; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - genetics; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - immunology; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - virology; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes B; Male; Middle Aged; multidisciplinary; Pathogenesis; Peripheral blood mononuclear cells; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Surface markers; Systemic lupus erythematosus; T lymphocytes; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; TLR3 protein; Toll-like receptors; Tumor necrosis factor-α; γ-Interferon; Lupus; T lymphocytes; Epstein-Barr virus (EBV); B lymphocytes; Human endogenous retrovirus (HERV-E)
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-70913-6

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifactorial disease characterized by the convergence of genetic, immunological, and viral elements resulting in a complex interaction of both internal and external factors. The role of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human endogenous retroviruses (HERV-E) as triggers and maintenance elements in the pathogenesis of SLE has been widely recognized. Previous studies have independently evaluated the effects of EBV and HERV-E in this disease. In this work, for the first time, these viral factors are jointly investigated in SLE patients. This study aimed at assessing the differential expression of immune regulatory genes and the incidence of specific viral pathogens (EBV and HERV-E), alongside the detailed characterization of surface markers in T- and B-lymphocytes in patients with SLE and control participants. A comparative analysis between patients with SLE and control participants was performed, evaluating the expression of phenotypic markers and genes involved in the immune response (TNF-α, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IFNG, TLR3), as well as HERV-E gag and EBV viral genes (LMP1 and BZLF1).A significant association between SLE and EBV was found in this study. A notable increase in EBV LMP1 gene expression was observed in patients with SLE . Also, a significant overexpression of HERV-E was observed, in addition to a considerable increase in the distribution of the cell surface marker CD27 + on T- and B-lymphocytes, observed in individuals with SLE compared to the control group. This study provides evidence regarding the role that EBV virus plays in lymphocytes in the context of SLE, highlighting how both the virus and the host gene expression may influence disease pathogenesis by altering immune regulatory pathways mediated by TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-10, as well as parallel overexpression of HERV-E gag. The decrease in TLR3 could indicate a compromised antiviral response, which could facilitate viral reactivation and contribute to disease activity.