Abstract
Objective. To investigate and refine the relationships among systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and related autoantibodies, interferon-α (IFN-α), and various ancestral backgrounds.
Methods. We investigated quantitatively defined genetic ancestry through principal component analysis in place of self-reported ancestry.
Results. African ancestry was found to be associated with presence of anti-RNP antibody (p = 0.0026), and anti-RNP was correlated with high levels of IFN-α (p = 2.8 × 10−5).
Conclusion. Our data support a model in which African ancestry increases the likelihood of SLE-associated autoantibody formation, which subsequently results in higher levels of serum IFN-α.
Footnotes
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Supported by Wake Forest University Health Sciences Center for Public Health Genomics (C.D. Langefeld); research grants from US National Institutes of Health (NIH; AR62277, AR42460, AI53747, AI31584, DE15223, RR20143, AI24717, AI62629, AR48940, AI83194, and AR49084), and from US Department of Veterans Affairs, Alliance for Lupus Research, and Rheuminations Inc. (J.B. Harley); NIH R01 AR060861, NIH K08 AI083790, NIH P30 DK42086, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Loan Repayment AI071651, NIH CTSA Core Subsidy Grant, and CTSA Pilot Grants from UL1 RR024999, Lupus Research Institute Novel Research Grant, Alliance for Lupus Research Target Identification in Lupus Grant, Arthritis National Research, and a Foundation Eng Tan Scholar Award (T.B. Niewold).
- Accepted for publication February 2, 2012.