Loss of interleukin-1 beta is not protective in the lupus-prone NZM2328 mouse model

RNA-sequencing analysis identified upregulation of TNF and IL-17 signaling pathways specifically in females lacking IL-1β. Increases in these signaling pathways are also found in female patients with lupus nephritis, suggesting clinical relevance for upregulation of these pathways. To better understand the impact of IL-1β deletion on lupus kidneys, genome-wide transcriptome analysis using RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed and transcriptional differences in the kidneys of male and female NZM and NZM-Il1b-/- mice were examined. Kidney RNA was isolated via Zymo Direct-zol RNA isolation kit and libraries were generated using standard poly-A prep kits (New England Biolabs) with the assistance of the U-M Advanced Genomics Core.