Background/Aims: 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. Materials and 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). Conclusion: Alterations in the Th1/Th2 cell balance may be responsible for both disease progression and the resulting complications.
BACKGROUND T cells are major players in chronic inflammatory diseases such as autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). However, it is not clear which subset of T cells participates in the pathophysiology of the disease. The aim of this study was to assess the expression profile of signature transcription factor and cytokines of T helper 17 (Th17) cells in patients with AIH. METHODS A total of 24 patients with AIH and 24 normal subjects were recruited in the study. Comparison of gene expression patterns between the patients and normal subjects was done by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). RESULTS The results showed that retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptors gamma (RORɣt), interleukin-17A (IL-17A), and interleukin-22 (IL-22) mRNA expression were increased greatly in the patients group compared with the normal controls group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Deregulated production of Th17-related molecules may be associated with the pathogenesis of AIH.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have indicated an elevated level of serum Interleukin (IL)-22 in patients with
autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). However, there are no experimental data on the master transcription
factor (aryl hydrocarbon receptor) that plays an important role in the development of T helper type
22 (Th22) cells as major producers of IL-22. The aim of the present study was to examine the
expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor in patients with AIH and in normal controls.
METHODS
Levels of mRNA transcripts were measured in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 18
patients with AIH and compared with 18 normal controls by a quantitative real-time polymerase
chain reaction.
RESULTS
mRNA expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor was significantly higher in patients with AIH
compared with the healthy control group (P = 0.006).
CONCLUSION
Th22 cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of AIH.
Background: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an inflammatory liver disorder that commonly affects women. The T cells and one of their major products, IFN-γ, are critically involved in the pathogenesis of AIH. Therefore, targeting of IFN-γ can probably be therapeutically useful while avoiding the long-term side effects of conventional immunosuppressive therapy. RNA interference, provides an ideal way to achieve this purpose. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of IFN-γ-siRNA on IFN-γ expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with AIH. Methods: In order to evaluate the anti-cytokine therapy with IFN-γ-siRNA, the PBMCs of AIH patients were cultured and transfected with IFN-γ-siRNA. After validation of transfection efficiency, the effects of gene silencing were tested with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and intracellular flow cytometry.
Results:The efficiently transfected cells, with the targeted IFN-γ-siRNA, without affecting cell viability showed a strong gene knockdown. The IFN-γ gene expression was significantly decreased in transfected cells (P < 0.05). Moreover, flow cytometric analysis confirmed the decrease of the intracellular IFN-γ protein level after siRNA transfection. Conclusions: Collectively, the results of the present study suggested that modifying the cytokine profile without inducing apoptosis using siRNA-based technology could be a promising tool for therapeutic intervention in T cells-dependent inflammatory diseases like AIH.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.