[Expression of transcription factor T-bet/GATA3 in lung cancer patients and its interference by the traditional Chinese herbal medicine].
OBJECTIVE
To study the relation between the expression of transcription factor T-bet/GATA3 and Th1/Th2 type cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from lung cancer patients and their interference by the traditional Chinese herbal medicine.


METHODS
The gene expression of Th1/Th2 type cytokine IFN gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, transcription factor T-bet/GATA3 and tumor tissue specific mRNA CEA, CK19 in PBMC from lung cancer patients were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction RT-PCR. Meanwhile, the change of IFN gamma, IL-4, T-bet and GATA3 in PBMC before and after being cultured with the traditional Chinese herbal medicine-Astragulus and Tetramethylpyrazine was also observed.


RESULTS
Predominant expression of Th2 type cytokines was detected in 42 lung cancer patients. The positive rates of IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IFN gamma and IL-2 were 27/42, 24/42, 31/42, 4/42 and 5/42, respectively. But, the positive rates of transcription factor T-bet and GATA3 were 16/42 and 34/42. Moreover, the expression intensity of T-bet was lower in the CEA and CK19 positive patients than the negative ones. On the contrary, the expression intensity of GATA3 was significantly higher in the same patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Predominant expression of Th2 type cytokines may be related to lower expression of T-bet or higher expression of GATA3. This condition can be interfered by the traditional Chinese herbal medicine-Astragulus and Tetramethylpyrazine.
Wei
Haiming
H
Institute of Shandong Academy of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University Medical School, Jinan 250062, China.
Tian
Zhigang
Z
Xu
Xiaoqun
X
Feng
Jinbo
J
Xiao
Wei
W
D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor
D016207:Cytokines; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; C494749:GATA3 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors