title: Type 2 polarized immune response holds a major position in Epstein-Barr virus-related idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (EBV-ITP).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dysfunctional cellular immunity is considered to be essential to the pathophysiology of Epstein-Barr virus-related idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (EBV-ITP). Cytokines in peripheral blood and the gene expression of transcription factors in T lymphocytes of patients with were investigated to correlate the polarization of T helper cell type 1 (Th1)/T helper cell type 2 (Th2) with the degree of thrombocytopenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of type 1 (T-bet) and type 2 (GATA-3) in T lymphocytes was detected by semiquantitative reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and plasma cytokine levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay in 35 patients and 30 control subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Th1/Th2 [(interleukin-2 + γ-interferon)/(interleukin-10 + interleukin-13)] cytokine ratios and transcription factor (T-bet/GATA-3) mRNA ratios were significantly decreased in patients with EBV-ITP, and the Th1/Th2 ratio was directly correlated with platelet counts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings clearly show that type 2 polarization of the autoimmune response accounts for the expression of cytokines and transcription factors in EBV-ITP.
authors.affiliation: Analytical Section of Attached Hospital of Jining Medical College, Jining City, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: C-Q
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: H-X
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: J-W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: B-Y
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors