T-Bet and GATA-3 expression correlates with the predominant Th1 cell polarization in active celiac disease mucosa

Abstract

Background & Aim: In celiac disease (CD) mucosa the histologic lesion is associated with a marker infiltration of Thl polarised cells. Factors-mechanism which regulate Thl cell differentiation in CD mucosa are still unkno~sm. The aim of present study was to atfflyze the expression of T-bet, a Thl promoting transcript ti~ctor, and GATA4, a Th2 inducing factor, in CD Materials and Methods: Duodenal mucosal samples were taken from CD patients (both treated and untreated), iFN-gamma and lL-4 svere examined in freshly isolated T-lamina propria lya'nphoc).~es (T-I.PD by quanutative RT-PCR. T-bet and GATA-3 were examined in whole mucosal sample and LPL by Western Blot. To analyse the eitect of gliadin on T-bet and GATA-3 expression, CD biopsies were stimulated with gliadin in an organ cul ure system Resuhs: As expected lFN-gamma but not IL-4 transeritptors were increased in the mucosa ot patients with CD in comparison to control Consistently, CD mucosal samples exhibited higher levels of T&et than controls. No difterence in T-bet expression was seen between treated CD patients and controls. In CD nmcosa, GATA-3 was present at low level and not dif'terent fi'om CD patients and controls. Conclusions: This study shows enhanced expression of T-bet but not GATA-3 in CD mucosa Thus suggesting the possibility that [-bet is a crucial factor m controlling Thl cell difterentiation in CD