title: Role of Th1/Th2 cells and related cytokines in autoimmune hepatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dysregulation of T cell response is thought to play an important role in the immunopathogenesis of autoimmune hepatitis. However, no consensus has yet been reached regarding the implications of a distinct T cell subset in the pathogenesis of this progressive liver disease. Therefore, T-bet and GATA-3 expression was examined in patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and in healthy controls. Moreover, the profile of Th1 (IFN-γ) and Th2 (IL-4) cytokine gene expression was analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Levels of mRNA transcripts were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using a two-step reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction with SYBR Green.
  
  
  RESULTS
  T-bet and IFN-γ mRNA expression was significantly higher in AIH patients compared to healthy controls (p<0.05), whereas no differences were observed for either GATA-3 or IL-4 mRNA expression (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alterations in the Th1/Th2 cell balance may be responsible for both disease progression and the resulting complications.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Genetics Department, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Tehran, Iran. zjadali@razi.tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Farinaz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Behfarjam
authors.forename: Mohammad Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Sanati
authors.forename: Siavash
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nasseri Moghaddam
authors.forename: Mitra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ataei
authors.forename: Sepideh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nikfam
authors.forename: Zohreh
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jadali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor / Q000097:blood*; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D058408:Th1-Th2 Balance; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; C494749:GATA3 protein, human; C508598:IL4 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015847:Interleukin-4