Abstract: PENG Xue-biao, OU Li-na. Department of Dermatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China Corresponding author: PENG Xue-biao, Email: pengxuebiao@126.com 【Abstract】 Objective To detect the expression of Blimp1 gene in MRL/lpr mice, so as to provide new ideas for plasma cell-targeting therapy of systemic lupus erythematosus （SLE）. Methods Electrophoretic mobility shift assay （EMSA） and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis （ChIP） were performed to evaluate the regulatory effect of Blimp1 on B cell maturation antigen （BCMA）, and fluorescence-based quantitative PCR was carried out to detect the expression of Blimp1 mRNA in spleen and lymph node tissue of MRL/lpr mice and normal control mice. The intergroup difference in Blimp1 mRNA expression was assessed by rank sum test. Results Blimp1 could bind to the BCMA gene promoter. Increased Blimp1 mRNA expression was observed in both the spleen and lymph node tissue of MRL/lpr mice compared with the normal control mice （Z = 2.609, 3.402, respectively, both P < 0.01）. Conclusions BCMA appears to be the target gene of Blimp1, and Blimp1 may plays a certain role in the maintenance of plasma cell survival and antibody production via directly regulating BCMA gene expression. 【Key words】 Lupus erythematosus, systemic; Blimp1; B-cell maturation antigen; Plasma cell; Mice, inbred MRL lpr

Key words: Blimp1