title: siRNA-mediated knockdown of FoxP3 promotes the ratio of T-helper 1 (Th1) to Th2 in chronic hepatitis B patients.
abstract: To determine the effect of regulatory T cells on the ratio of Th1/Th2 differentiation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of chronic hepatitis B patients, FoxP3, the essential transcription factor for Tcells differentiation and function, was knocked down by FoxP3 siRNA, which was affirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction for decreased expression of FoxP3. Then, at different time points, comparing with control groups, we detected enhanced lymphocyte proliferation and up-regulated Th1-type cytokines, but down-regulated Th2-type cytokines by ELISA. Finally, to research the involved mechanisms, an increased ratio of T-bet/GATA-3 mRNA expression was found by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Our results suggest that siRNA-mediated knockdown of FoxP3 could regulate the immune balance of Th1/Th2 in chronic hepatitis B patients, which may be mediated partly by regulating transcription factors T-bet and GATA-3.
authors.affiliation: Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai, China. yuyongsheng@medmail.com.cn
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yongsheng
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiaoliang
authors.forename: Tang
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhenghao
authors.forename: Zang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guoqing
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000378:metabolism*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; D007376:Interleukin-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma