Deficient expression of Sp3 gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in multiple sclerosis patients and the correlation with immunity

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the expression of Sp3 gene of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in Guizhou and the relationship between Sp3 gene expression and immunological function. Methods Two pairs of primers were used to amplify cDNAs generated from 31 MS patients and 30 healthy controls. The serum levels of sIL-2R were measured in 27 patients with MS and 30 healthy controls by sandwiched ELISA. Results The deficient expression of Sp3 gene in MS patients was significantly higher than that in control (41.9% ( 12/31 ) vs 6. 7% (2/30) ,x2 =7. 133 ,P =0. 008). The sIL-2R levels in MS patients were significantly higher than those in control (( 2788.5 ± 1079. 8 ), ( 1270. 7 ± 489. 4) μg/L, t = 6. 170, P = 0. 001 ). The concentration of sIL-2R in MS with negative ((3364.0 ± 1252.3) μg/L) and positive((2450.0 ± 827.0) μg/L) expression of Sp3 gene were significantly increased compared with control (F = 32. 059, P < 0. 05 ). The sIL-2R levels were significantly rising in MS patients with negative expression of Sp3 gene compared with MS patients with positive expression of Sp3 gene ( q = 4. 213, P < 0. 05 ). Conclusions A remarkable deficient expression of Sp3 gene in PBMC has been found in MS patients in Guizhou. sIL-2R may take part in the process of MS. The expression of Sp3 gene is not affected by immune state, however, MS patients with Sp3 deficient expression tend to have a more serious impairment in immunological functions. Key words: Multiple sclerosis; Leukocytes, mononuclear; Sp3 transcription factor; Gene expression; Receptors, interleukin-2