EXPRESSION OF ETS FAMILY OF GENES IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS ANDSJOGRENS-SYNDROME

We have examined the expression of three members of the ets family of genes, ETS1, ETS2 and ERGB/Fli-1, in lymphocytes from patients with sy stemic lupus erythematosus and in two murine autoimmune model systems. The ERGB/Fli-1 gene is expressed at a higher level in lymphocytes fro m autoimmune disease patients than healthy individuals. In addition, w e found that the ERGB/Fli-1 gene expression is higher in splenic T-cel ls from lupus prone mice and in infiltrating lymphocytes in the saliva ry glands of HTLV-I tax transgenic mice. Taken together, these results suggest that the elevated expression of the ERGB/Fli-1 gene in lympho cytes may be a prelude to the development of autoimmune diseases.