Role of transcription factor T-bet, GATA-3, RORγt and FOXP3 in peripheral blood mononuclear cell of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Objective To detect the expression of T-bet, GATA-3, RORγt, FOXP3 in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, to investigate the mechanism of HCC regarding imbalance of Th1/Th2, Th17/Treg from a transcription factor perspective. Methods Twenty HCC patients admitted from October 2008 to January 2009 as well as twenty healthy people were enrolled in the study. The mRNA changes of T-bet, GATA-3, RORγt and FOXP3 in PBMC were determined by real-time quantitative PCR. Results The transcription factor T-bet mRNA of Th1 in HCC group was significantly lower than that of control group (52.34±34.07 VS 104.01±56.00, P<0.01), but the transcription factor GATA-3 mRNA of Th2 in HCC group was significantly higher than that of control group (1.38±1.15 VS 0.58±0.45, P<0.05), and the T-bet mRNA/GATA-3 mRNA ratio was manifestly reduced in HCC group compared with that of control group (86.01±116.71 VS 461.88±708.81, P<0.05). The transcription factor RORγt mRNA of Th17 in PBMC of HCC patients was higher (72.32±32.82 VS 33.07±22.86, P<0.01), and the transcription factor FOXP3 mRNA of Treg in PBMC of HCC patients was higher than that of healthy control group (3.17±1.59 VS 1.39±1.13, P<0.01). Conclusions The T-bet mRNA expression in HCC patients was lower than that of control group, while the GATA-3 mRNA was significantly increased, and the ratio of T-bet mRNA/GATA-3 mRNA was decreased. This indicated that there was Th1/Th2 imbalance, or Th2 drift in HCC patients in transcription factor level. The RORγt mRNA and the FOXP3 mRNA expression were significantly increased in PBMC of HCC patients, which suggested a advantageous status of Th17 and Treg in HCC patients. Key words: Transcription factor, T-bet, GATA-3, RORγt, FOXP3; Hepatocellular carcinoma