en Reumatology Reumatology Original Article Original Article <span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="line-height:14pt"><b><i><span style="color:blue">Background</span></i></b><i><span style="color:blue">:</span></i> Glucocorticoid receptor &alpha; (GR&alpha;) gene is a transcription factor with clinically significant immune-modulating properties in various autoimmune diseases. However, the expression pattern of the GR&alpha; gene and associations with clinical features in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is controversial. This study aimed to assess the correlation between the GR&alpha; expression and different clinical and laboratory-related parameters in SLE patients.</span><br> <span style="line-height:14pt"><b><i><span style="color:blue">Methods:</span></i></b> A total of 45 women with newly diagnosed SLE and 31 gender and age-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCT) method evaluated the differences in GR&alpha; expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from cases and controls. The correlation between the GR&alpha; gene expression levels, clinicolaboratory features, and potential prognostic application was also analyzed.<span style="font-size:10.0pt"></span></span><br> <span style="line-height:14pt"><b><i><span style="color:blue">Results:</span></i></b> Compared to the healthy individuals, the GR&alpha; gene expression in newly diagnosed SLE patients who did not receive any treatment was numerically reduced, but this reduction did not achieve statistical significance P=0.87.&nbsp;No significant correlation was also found with the activity and severity of SLE according to SLEDAI2K (P=0.41). The GR&alpha; gene expression showed a negative correlation with CRP (P=0.034) and a positive correlation with lupus anticoagulant (P=0.039) levels in SLE. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated that the GR&alpha; expression level might be a predictor biomarker for low CRP and positive lupus anticoagulant in SLE, respectively.<span style="font-size:10.0pt"></span></span><br> <span style="line-height:14pt"><b><i><span style="color:blue">Conclusion</span></i></b><i><span style="color:blue">:</span></i> This study proposed that expression of the GR&alpha; in newly diagnosed lupus patients has no statistically significant difference with healthy age and sex-matched controls. Besides, its expression does not correlate with lupus disease activity according to SLEDAI2k. However, further studies in this area are required.<span style="font-size:10.0pt"></span></span></span></span><br> &nbsp; Systemic lupus erythematosus, GRα gene, CRP, Lupus, glucocorticoid gene receptor 470 478 http://caspjim.com/browse.php?a_code=A-10-2713-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Maryam Sahebari sahebarim@mums.ac.ir 100319475328460042996 100319475328460042996 No Rheumatic Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Zahra RezaieYazdi rezaieyazdiz@mums.ac.ir 100319475328460042997 100319475328460042997 No Rheumatic Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Mandana Khodashahi KhodashahiMN@mums.ac.ir 100319475328460042998 100319475328460042998 No Rheumatic Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Houshang Rafatpanah rafatpanahh@mums.ac.ir 100319475328460042999 100319475328460042999 No Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Hassan Mehrad Majd mehradmajdh@mums.ac.ir 100319475328460043000 100319475328460043000 No Clinical Research Development Unit, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Nayereh Saadati saadatin@mums.ac.ir 100319475328460043001 100319475328460043001 No Rheumatic Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Masoumeh Salari salarim@mums.ac.ir 100319475328460043002 100319475328460043002 Yes Rheumatic Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran