ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of the T cell-specific transcription factors T-bet/GATA-3 in recurrent aphthous ulcerations (RAU).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated by density gradient centrifugation from RAU patients and healthy controls. Expressions of T-bet and GATA-3 mRNA and protein in the PBMCs were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot respectively. The concentrations of gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in the serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expressions of T-bet mRNA were 0.73 +/- 0.14 in the control group and 0.12 +/- 0.04 in the recurrent aphthous ulcerations group, the levels of T-bet protein expressions were 0.73 +/- 0.18 in the control group and 0.24 +/- 0.09 in the recurrent aphthous ulcerations group, there was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). The levels of GATA-3 mRNA expressions were 0.89 +/- 0.11 in the control group and 1.30 +/- 0.13 in the recurrent aphthous ulcerations group; GATA-3 protein expressions were 1.09 +/- 0.16 in the control group and 1.80 +/- 0.16 in the recurrent aphthous ulcerations group, there was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). In the control group, the concentration of gamma-interferon in the serum was (22.15 +/- 1.52) ng/L, which was significantly elevated compared with that in the recurrent aphthous ulcerations group (16.32 +/- 0.22) ng/L (P < 0.01), in the control group, the concentration of IL-4 in the serum was (25.58 +/- 2.59) ng/L, which was significantly lower than that of the recurrent aphthous ulcerations group (43.60 +/- 3.15) ng/L (P < 0.01). The ratio of gamma-IFN and IL-4 was positively correlated with the ratio of T-bet and GATA-3 mRNA and protein expression (r = 0.96, 0.94, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Imbalance of transcription factors T-bet and GATA-3 may be one of the key factors in immune dysregulation of recurrent aphthous ulcerations.</p>