TCR zeta mRNA with an alternatively spliced 3'-untranslated region detected in systemic lupus erythematosus patients leads to the down-regulation of TCR zeta and TCR/CD3 complex.

The reduction or absence of TCR zeta-chain (zeta) expression in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients is thought to be related to the pathogenesis of SLE. Recently, we reported the predominant expression of zeta mRNA containing an alternatively spliced 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR; zetamRNA/as-3'UTR) and a reduction in the expression of zeta mRNA containing the wild-type 3'UTR (zetamRNA/w-3'UTR) in T cells from SLE patients. Here we show that AS3'UTR mutants (MA5.8 cells deficient in zeta protein that have been transfected with zetamRNA/as-3'UTR) exhibit a reduction in the expression of TCR/CD3 complex and zeta protein on their cell surface as well as a reduction in the production of IL-2 after stimulation with anti-CD3 Ab compared with that in wild-type 3'UTR mutants (MA5.8 cells transfected with zetamRNA/w-3'UTR). Furthermore, the real-time PCR analyses demonstrated that the half-life of zetamRNA/as-3'UTR in AS3'UTR mutants (3 h) was much shorter than that of zetamRNA/w-3'UTR in wild-type 3'UTR mutants (15 h). Thus, the lower stability of zetamRNA/as-3'UTR, which is predominant in SLE T cells, may be responsible for the reduced expression of the TCR/CD3 complex, including zeta protein, in SLE T cells.