title: Expression of Th1/Th2/Th3/Th17-related genes in recurrent aphthous ulcers.
abstract: The pathogenesis of recurrent aphthous ulceration (RAU) is unknown, although an abnormal immune reaction appears to be involved. RAU may result from oral epithelium damage caused by T cell-mediated immune response. To improve understanding of the role of T cells in RAU, the present study analyzed. the expression of T cell-related genes in oral ulcers from patients with RAU, as well as in healthy non-keratinized oral mucosa from aphthae-free volunteers. Biopsies from RAU patients and healthy individuals were analyzed using Human Th1-Th2-Th3 RT(2) Profiler PCR Array and qRT-PCR that allowed to quantify the transcript levels of 86 genes related to T cell activation. We found that cells present in aphthous ulcers express a characteristic Th1-like gene profile. The majority of genes up-regulated in aphthous lesions such as IFN-γ, TNF, IL-15, IRF1, STAT-1 and STAT-4 were Th1-associated. Th2-realated genes were not overexpressed in RAU tissues, with the exception for CCR3. Th3- and Th17-related gene expression patterns were not demonstrated in RAU. These findings clearly reveal that aphthous ulcer formation is predominantly dependent on the activation of the Th1-type immune response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology and Oral Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Poland. natalewk@wp.pl
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lewkowicz
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kur
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kurnatowska
authors.forename: Henryk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tchorzewski
authors.forename: Przemyslaw
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lewkowicz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018122:B7-1 Antigen / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D051940:B7-2 Antigen / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013281:Stomatitis, Aphthous / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D051940:B7-2 Antigen; D016207:Cytokines