Expression of T-bet, a type 1 T-helper cell transcription factor, in the urinary sediment of lupus patients predicts disease flare

摘要

Background. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by the aberrant activation of T-lymphocytes. Since T-bet is the principal transcription factor for the differentiation of type-1 helper T-lymphocyte, we study the impact of urinary T-bet mRNA expression in clinically quiescent SLE patients on the risk of subsequent disease flare.