Investigating expression pattern of eight immune‐related genes in pemphigus patients compared with the healthy controls and after rituximab therapy: Potential roles of CTLA4 and FCGR3A genes expression in outcomes of rituximab therapy

Pemphigus is a rare group of autoimmune diseases, which its exact molecular pathogenesis and therapeutic biomarkers remained unknown. In this regard the expressions of eight immune‐related genes was evalualted in pemphigus patients. Forty‐six pemphigus patients, either new case or on minimal therapy, were recruited. The expressions of IL22, IL9, IL21, EBI3, TNFSF13B, FCGR3A, CTLA4, and PDCD1 genes were analyzed at baseline, compared with 32 healthy controls, and their changes were monitored 3 months after rituximab (RTX) therapy through Reverse Transcriptase Real‐time PCR (RT‐Real‐time PCR). Except of IL21, which was similar in both groups, expressions of other genes were significantly lower in patients compared with the controls (P‐value