[Impact of cyclosporine A on the expression of T-bet, GATA-3, relevant signal transduction molecules, cytokine and Th1/Th2 balance in patients with chronic aplastic anemia]

Zhongguo Shi Yan Xue Ye Xue Za Zhi. 2010 Oct;18(5):1211-9.
[Article in Chinese]

Abstract

The study was aimed to explore the effects of T-bet (T-box expressed in T cell), GATA-3(GATA binding protein 3) and relevant signal transduction pathways on the immune-related pathogenesis of chronic aplastic anemia (CAA), and to investigate the immunological regulation mechanism in the treatment of CAA by using cyclosporine A (CsA) at the level of Th cell imbalance, transcriptional factors, and relevant signal pathways. The real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time FQ-PCR) was used to determine the mRNA expression of T-bet, GATA-3, signal transducers and activators of transcription 4 (STAT4) and signal transducers and activators of transcription 6 (STAT6) in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMNC) of CAA patients before and after treatment with CsA; the flow cytometry (FCM) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to determine the Th1/Th2 proportion in peripheral blood, and levels of IFN-γ, IL-12 and IL-4 in PBMNC-cultured supernatant. Healthy people were included to test the above indexes. The results showed that the mRNA expression of PBMNC T-bet, STAT4, T-bet/GATA-3 ratio, Th1 proportion, Th1/Th2 ratio and levels of IFN-γ and IL-12 in PBMNC-cultured supernatant of CAA patients were significantly higher than those of healthy people (p < 0.01). After treating with CsA for 6 months of CsA treatment, expression of T-bet, STAT4, T-bet/GATA-3 ratio, Th1 proportion, IFN-γ and IL-12 levels were lower than before, however, the expression of T-bet, STAT4, T-bet/GATA-3 ratio, Th1 proportion and IFN-γ had not been reduced to normal state. Compared to healthy people, no significant difference existed in the mRNA expression of GATA-3, STAT6, Th2 proportion, as well as level of IL-4 before and after treatment (p>0.05). It is concluded that the abnormal activation of IFN-γ/T-bet and IL-12/STAT4 pathways, as well as Th balance deviating to Th1 excursion play vital roles in the immunological pathogenesis of AA. CsA lowers the abnormal activation of IFN-γ/T-bet and IL-12/STAT4 pathways to correct Th1 hyperpolarization, which may reduce the abnormally activated cell-mediated immunity and relax hematopoietic depression of AA patients.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anemia, Aplastic / drug therapy*
  • Anemia, Aplastic / immunology
  • Anemia, Aplastic / metabolism
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cyclosporine / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • GATA3 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-12 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • STAT4 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / metabolism*
  • Th1 Cells / drug effects*
  • Th2 Cells / drug effects*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • GATA3 Transcription Factor
  • GATA3 protein, human
  • IL4 protein, human
  • STAT4 Transcription Factor
  • STAT4 protein, human
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor
  • STAT6 protein, human
  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • T-box transcription factor TBX21
  • Interleukin-12
  • Interleukin-4
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Cyclosporine