Figure 1. Increased gene expression of complement 3 (C3), toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-b1) expressions in whole blood cells of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with thrombocytopenia (TCP). Relative levels of (a) TLR9, (b) TGF-b1 and (c) C3 messenger ribonucleic acid transcripts (mRNA) to glyceraldehyde- 3-phosphate dehydrogenase in whole blood cells of SLE patients were determined by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Data are expressed as mean values of individual patients with thrombocytopenia (n=38) and those without thrombocytopenia (n=25). Lines reflect median values of individual groups.