inflammation & autoimmunity

JAZF1

How Does Fat & Sugar Metabolism Affect Lupus? (JAZF1)

Written by Jasmine Foster, BSc, BEd on November 30th, 2020

JAZF1 regulates sugar & fat metabolism and decreases the activity of white blood cells in fat tissue. What is its role in lupus? Read on to learn more.

Summary

JAZF1 encodes a protein called juxtaposed with another zinc finger gene 1. Variants of JAZF1 may play a role in lupus by increasing the activity of white blood cells in fatty tissue. Lifestyle, diet, and supplement modifications may counteract the effects of these variants by supporting or increasing JAZF1 function.

JAZF1 and Lupus

The JAZF1 gene encodes a protein called juxtaposed with another zinc finger gene 1. This protein prevents the expression of certain other genes. It also regulates blood sugar by activating visfatin, a protein that increases insulin sensitivity [R, R, R].

Variation in the JAZF1 gene has been linked to cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases—systemic lupus erythematosus (often simply called lupus) in particular [R, R, R, R].

JAZF1 helps regulate fats (triglycerides and cholesterol) in the bloodstream. In animals, high levels of JAZF1 activity protect against liver dysfunction from high levels of fats in the blood [R].

The JAZF1 protein suppresses the activity of macrophages (a type of white blood cells) and decreases inflammation in fatty tissues. Any genetic variant that decreases JAZF1 activity may allow for increased macrophage activity and inflammation. In turn, increased macrophage activity is common in patients with lupus [R, R].

JAZF1 encodes a zinc finger protein that regulates fat metabolism and reduces inflammation and macrophage activity in fat tissues. Low-expression variants are associated with lupus.

Your JAZF1 Results for Lupus

SNP Table

variant	genotype	frequency	risk allele
rs1635852
rs849142
rs702814
rs10245867

JAZF1 rs1635852 [R]

‘T’ = Associated with relatively higher rates of lupus
‘C’ = Associated with relatively lower rates of lupus
The ‘C’ allele may reduce blood fat, macrophage activity, and inflammation, leading to reduced risk of lupus [R, R].

JAZF1 rs849142 [R]

‘T’ = Associated with relatively higher rates of lupus
‘C’ = Associated with relatively lower rates of lupus
The ‘C’ allele may reduce blood fat, macrophage activity, and inflammation, leading to reduced risk of lupus [R, R].

JAZF1 rs702814 [R]

‘C’ = Associated with relatively higher rates of lupus
‘T’ = Associated with relatively lower rates of lupus
The ‘T’ allele may reduce blood fat, macrophage activity, and inflammation, leading to reduced risk of lupus [R, R].

JAZF1 rs10245867 [R]

‘T’ = Associated with relatively higher rates of lupus
‘G’ = Associated with relatively lower rate of lupus
The ‘G’ allele may reduce blood fat, macrophage activity, and inflammation, leading to reduced risk of lupus [R, R].

Recommendations

Blood Fat-Lowering Diet

Animals with higher JAZF1 expression were less likely to develop liver dysfunction from high levels of fats in the blood. JAZF1 may improve the body’s ability to process and store fats; thus, people with low-expression JAZF1 variants may benefit from a diet that decreases blood fat levels [R].

People with lupus tend to have high blood triglycerides and cholesterol, leading to increased risk of premature heart disease. In 4 controlled trials on 154 people with lupus, dietary interventions modestly improved blood fat levels [R, R, R, R].

Blood fats are typically high in people with lupus, leading to potential complications. People with low-expression JAZF1 variants may be especially prone to high blood fats.

Reduced Carb Intake

High concentrations of glucose have been found to reduce JAZF1 expression in cells of the liver and pancreas [R].

In a small non-placebo-controlled trial on 23 women with lupus, both a low-calorie and a low-glycemic-index diet were equally effective at reducing fatigue [R].

High carbohydrate intake increases blood glucose, which may reduce JAZF1 expression. Low carb diets, meanwhile, may improve some symptoms of lupus.

Zinc

JAZF1 is a zinc finger protein, meaning that it needs zinc in order to function correctly [R].

People with autoimmune diseases, including lupus, are more likely to have a zinc deficiency than the healthy population. In animals, zinc deprivation worsened the symptoms of autoimmune diseases [R, R].

Zinc is available as a supplement; the richest dietary sources include beef, pork, oysters, and other seafood [R].

JAZF1 requires zinc in order to function properly, and people with autoimmune diseases are more likely to be deficient in zinc than healthy people.

Jasmine Foster

BSc, BEd

Jasmine received her BS from McGill University and her BEd from Vancouver Island University.

Jasmine loves helping people understand their brains and bodies, a passion that grew out of her dual background in biology and education. From the chem lab to the classroom, everyone has the right to learn and make informed decisions about their health.

Disclaimer

The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other official medical body. This information is presented for educational purposes only, and may not be used to diagnose or treat any illness or disease.

Also keep in mind that the “Risk Score” presented in this post is based only on a select number of SNPs, and therefore only represents a small portion of your total risk as an individual. Furthermore, these analyses are based primarily on associational studies, which do not necessarily imply causation. Finally, many other (non-genetic) factors can also play a significant role in the development of a disease or health condition — therefore, carrying any of the risk-associated genotypes discussed in this post does not necessarily mean you are at increased risk of developing a major health condition.

Always consult your doctor before acting on any information or recommendations discussed in this post — especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have been officially diagnosed with a medical condition.

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Summary JAZF1 and Lupus Your JAZF1 Results for Lupus

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