title: Correlation between the ratio of T-bet/GATA-3 and the levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ in patients with allergic asthma.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the ratio of the transcription factors T-bet/GATA-3 in patients with allergic asthma. Forty-seven individuals with allergic asthma and 47 healthy control individuals provided 5 ml of anticoagulated peripheral venous blood. Lymphocytes in peripheral blood were isolated by Ficoll and treated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) at a final concentration of 100 mg/l for 48 h. Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) levels were detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the mRNA levels of both T-bet and GATA-3 were detected using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). IFN-γ levels in the lymphocytes of asthmatic patients were lower than those of the control group (P<0.05) and were positively correlated with the ratio of T-bet/GATA-3. By contrast, IL-4 levels were significantly higher in asthmatic patients than in the control group (P<0.01) and were negatively correlated with the ratio of T-bet/GATA-3. In conclusion, the ratio of T-bet/GATA-3 can be used as an objective indicator of immune imbalance in patients with allergic asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Dongnan University, Jiangyin, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China. jiyongmyp@126.com
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.forename: Guo-Qiang
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor
chemical_list: D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma