title: [Expression of forkhead box protein P3 in peripheral blood and salivary gland of patients with Sjogren's syndrome].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of forkhead box protein P3 (Foxp3) in the peripheral blood and salivary gland of patients with Sjogren's Syndrome (SS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to examine Foxp3mRNA expression in the CD(4)(+) T cells and the salivary glands from 6 primary SS patients and 6 normal controls. Serial sections of biopsied salivary gland (SG) were examined with immunohistochemistry, using monoclonal mouse anti-human CD(4) and Foxp3 in 6 healthy controls and 31 primary SS patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant difference in the number of infiltrating CD(4)(+) T cells was noted in the salivary glands of the patients and controls, but Foxp3(+)CD(4)(+) T cells were almost absent in those biopsy samples. Foxp3mRNA expression in the blood of SS patients was significantly lower than that in normal controls (0.21 +/- 0.17 vs 1.32 +/- 0.38, P < 0.0184). Foxp3mRNA expression was not detectable in the tissue of the salivary glands (n = 6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The absence of Foxp3(+)CD(4)(+) T cells in salivary glands with reduction of Foxp3mRNA expression in peripheral blood suggests an important role of Foxp3 in the pathogenesis of SS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Affiliated Anhui Provincial Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, China. lixiaomei1@medmail.com.cn
authors.forename: Xiao-mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiang-pei
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Guo-sheng
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao-qiu
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yi-ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger