title: [Expression of T cell-specific transcription factors T-bet and GATA-3 in recurrent aphthous ulcerations].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of the T cell-specific transcription factors T-bet/GATA-3 in recurrent aphthous ulcerations (RAU).
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated by density gradient centrifugation from RAU patients and healthy controls. Expressions of T-bet and GATA-3 mRNA and protein in the PBMCs were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot respectively. The concentrations of gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in the serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expressions of T-bet mRNA were 0.73 +/- 0.14 in the control group and 0.12 +/- 0.04 in the recurrent aphthous ulcerations group, the levels of T-bet protein expressions were 0.73 +/- 0.18 in the control group and 0.24 +/- 0.09 in the recurrent aphthous ulcerations group, there was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). The levels of GATA-3 mRNA expressions were 0.89 +/- 0.11 in the control group and 1.30 +/- 0.13 in the recurrent aphthous ulcerations group; GATA-3 protein expressions were 1.09 +/- 0.16 in the control group and 1.80 +/- 0.16 in the recurrent aphthous ulcerations group, there was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). In the control group, the concentration of gamma-interferon in the serum was (22.15 +/- 1.52) ng/L, which was significantly elevated compared with that in the recurrent aphthous ulcerations group (16.32 +/- 0.22) ng/L (P < 0.01), in the control group, the concentration of IL-4 in the serum was (25.58 +/- 2.59) ng/L, which was significantly lower than that of the recurrent aphthous ulcerations group (43.60 +/- 3.15) ng/L (P < 0.01). The ratio of gamma-IFN and IL-4 was positively correlated with the ratio of T-bet and GATA-3 mRNA and protein expression (r = 0.96, 0.94, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Imbalance of transcription factors T-bet and GATA-3 may be one of the key factors in immune dysregulation of recurrent aphthous ulcerations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Wuxi No. 4 Hospital Affiliated to Suzhou University, Wuxi Jiangsu 214062, China. dentzhu@163.com
authors.forename: Jin-xiao
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Li-ying
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: Li-hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhao-hui
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: A-gui
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013281:Stomatitis, Aphthous / Q000378:metabolism*; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor
chemical_list: D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor