Asia Pac Allergy.  2013 Jul;3(3):186-193. 10.5415/apallergy.2013.3.3.186.

T cell transcriptional factors in allergic rhinitis and its association with clinical features

• Mo JH
• Chung YJ
• Kim JH

• KMID: 2397312
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5415/apallergy.2013.3.3.186

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Th2 cells are crucially important in allergic disease and the possible involvement of Treg and Th17 cells has not been clearly identified.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the mRNA expression of T cell transcription factors in nasal mucosa in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and to reveal their correlations with clinical features.
METHODS
Eighteen patients with AR and 12 controls with turbinate hypertrophy were included. mRNA expression of the following transcriptional factors in nasal mucosa were measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction; T-bet (Th1), GATA3 (Th2), retinoic acid-related orphan receptor C (RORC; Th17), and forkhead box P3 (Foxp3; Treg). mRNA expression was compared among groups and correlation between mRNA expression level and clinical features (rhinitis symptoms, eosinophil count, and IgE) were also investigated.
RESULTS
GATA3 and RORC were significantly increased and Foxp3 was significantly decreased in the AR group. Moderate-to-severe AR group also had increased expression of GATA3 and RORC than mild AR group, suggesting severity of AR influence expression of transcription factors. Correlation analysis showed that none of these transcription factors were associated with severity of clinical symptoms, eosinophil counts and skin prick test severity and that IgE level was significantly correlated with expression level of GATA3 and RORC, suggesting an association of IgE production with Th2 and Th17 cells.
CONCLUSION
Increased mRNA expression of GATA3 (Th2), increased expression of RORC and decreased expression of Foxp3 may be important in pathogenesis of AR. GATA3 and RORC may be closed related with IgE level.

Keyword

Allergic rhinitis; Transcription factor; T-bet; GATA3; Retinoic acid-related orphan receptor C; Forkhead box P3

MeSH Terms

Child
Child, Orphaned
Eosinophils
Humans
Hypertrophy
Immunoglobulin E
Nasal Mucosa
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Rhinitis, Allergic*
RNA, Messenger
Skin
Th17 Cells
Th2 Cells
Transcription Factors
Turbinates
Immunoglobulin E
RNA, Messenger
Transcription Factors

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 mRNA levels for GATA-3, Foxp3, RORC and T-bet transcription factors measured in nasal tissues of control and patients with AR. mRNA concentrations were standardized against the levels of GAPDH housekeeping gene. The significance level was set at a value of 0.05. *p < 0.05. Foxp3, forkhead box P3; RORC, retinoic acid-related orphan receptor C; AR, allergic rhinitis; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

• 

  Fig. 2 mRNA levels for GATA-3, Foxp3, RORC and T-bet transcription factors measured in nasal tissues of control, patients with mild AR (mild) and moderate-to-severe AR (severe). mRNA concentrations were standardized against the levels of b-actin housekeeping gene. The significance level was set at a value of 0.05. *p < 0.05. Foxp3, forkhead box P3; RORC, retinoic acid-related orphan receptor C; AR, allergic rhinitis.

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