Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology
Original Article

Role of Th1/Th2 cells and related cytokines in autoimmune hepatitis

1.

Clinical Genetics Department, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Tehran, Iran

2.

Digestive Diseases Research Center, Digestive Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3.

School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Turk J Gastroenterol 2017; 28: 110-114
DOI: 10.5152/tjg.2017.17501
Read: 3364 Downloads: 837 Published: 25 July 2019

Abstract

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.

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EISSN 2148-5607