title: Expression of the Foxp3 gene in spleen mononuclear cells of a mouse model with allergic rhinitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is growing speculation that the impairment in regulatory-T-cell (Treg)-mediated dominant tolerance may play an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis (AR). The aim of this study was to investigate whether the changes in the forkhead transcription factor 3 (Foxp3) gene expression may aggravate nasal mucosal inflammation in allergic mice, and whether or not these features result from the loss of Tregs.
  
  
  METHODS
  AR was induced by both intraperitoneal injection and intranasal administration of ovalbumin in BALB/c mice, while the control mice were treated with saline. A comparison of the frequency of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the AR and control mice was made by flow cytometry. Spleen mononuclear cells were used for RNA extraction and RT-PCR was used to measure Foxp3 mRNA expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of the Foxp3 gene was significantly reduced in spleen mononuclear cells in AR mice compared with the control. Moreover, a significant decrease in the percentage of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs was exhibited in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of AR mice compared with the control mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The insufficiency of Tregs and the Foxp3 gene may contribute to the development of AR in mice.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory, Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Beijing, PR China.
authors.forename: Demin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.forename: Erzhong
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Luo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000276:immunology; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse; C508018:Il2ra protein, mouse; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D010047:Ovalbumin