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Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Identification of Mediators of T-cell Receptor Signaling via the Screening of Chemical Inhibitor Libraries
Published on: January 22, 2019
Estradiol targets T cell signaling pathways in human systemic lupus
Emily Walters1, Virginia Rider, Nabih I Abdou
1Department of Biology, Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS 66762, USA.
Abstract:
The major risk factor for developing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is being female. The present study utilized gene profiles of activated T cells from females with SLE and healthy controls to identify signaling pathways uniquely regulated by estradiol that could contribute to SLE pathogenesis. Selected downstream pathway genes (+/- estradiol) were measured by real time polymerase chain amplification. Estradiol uniquely upregulated six pathways in SLE T cells that control T cell function including interferon-alpha signaling. Measurement of interferon-alpha pathway target gene expression revealed significant differences (p= 0.043) in DRIP150 (+/- estradiol) in SLE T cell samples while IFIT1 expression was bimodal and correlated moderately (r= 0.55) with disease activity. The results indicate that estradiol alters signaling pathways in activated SLE T cells that control T cell function. Differential expression of transcriptional coactivators could influence estrogen-dependent gene regulation in T cell signaling and contribute to SLE onset and disease pathogenesis.
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