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

ABSTRACT

Background and objectives

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).

Patients and methods

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.

Results

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.

Conclusion

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.

KEYWORDS:

• Autoimmunity
• PCR
• IFI44
• IRF4

Authors’ contribution

Shaimaa Elsayed Ramadan Genena: Proposing a research idea and participating in a procedure of laboratory experiments, extracting and comparing results, and writing the research paper.

Prof. Dr. MahaAhmed Fathi Hamoda: Study design; supervise the implementation of practical steps.

Dr. NorhanMohammad Khaled Salama: Participate in blood sample collection, implementing laboratory procedures, extracting and comparing results, and writing the research paper.

Dr. Enas Sobhy Zahran: Provide clinical data and therapeutic protocols for the studied cases.

Dr. AsmaaAbdel Latif: Participate in the comparison of results. Do the statistical tests for the research paper.

Prof. Dr. AshrafAbd El Raouf Dawood: Collecting scientific sources; participating in the extraction and comparison of results; revising the research writing.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/15321819.2024.2381524

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.