Fig. 5

HERV-E clone 4–1 3’LTR induced DNA hypomethylation and IL-17 release via miR-302d/MBD2 in CD4+ T cells of SLE. a Predicted binding sites of miR-302d in the 3’LTR of HERV-E clone 4–1 mRNA and MBD2 3’UTR. b and c Effects of miR-302d on the expression of luciferase reporter genes containing HERV-E clone 4–1 3’LTR or MBD2 3’UTR. Luciferase activity was normalized to the value obtained in cells transfected with NC oligonucleotides. d Relative expression of HERV-E clone 4–1 3’LTR mRNA when CD4⁺ T cells were transfected with HERV-E clone 4–1 3’LTR expression plasmids. e Western blot analysis of IRF9 and MBD2 proteins in CD4⁺ T cells from SLE patients transfected with HERV-E clone 4–1 3’LTR expression plasmids and/or miR-302d mimics and the corresponding negative controls. Relative global DNA methylation level (f), intracellular IL-17 level (g-i) and IL-17 level in culture supernatants (j) in CD4+ T cells from SLE patient transfected with HERV-E clone 4–1 3’LTR expression plasmids, miR-302d mimics or MBD2 expression plasmids and the corresponding negative controls