[Imbalance in the expression of Foxp3, T-bet and GATA-3 is correlated with inflammation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the change of regulatory T cells(Tregs), fork head-like transcription factor 3 (Foxp3), T box expressed in T cells (T-bet) and GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3) in rat models of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: Thirty rats were randomly divided into control group and model group (n=15 each). The rats of model group were developed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and smoking. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and γ-interferon (IFN-γ) in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected 28 days after modeling by ELISA. Peripheral Tregs were detected by flow cytometry. The expressions of Foxp3, T-bet, GATA gene and protein in lung tissue were observed by reverse transcription PCR and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the model group had more serious inflammation in lung tissues, expressed the higher levels of IFN-γ in serum and BALF (P<0.01), T-bet mRNA and protein in lung tissue, and the lower levels of IL-4, CD4⁺ CD25⁺ Treg, CD4⁺ CD25⁺ Foxp3⁺ Treg (P<0.05), Foxp3, GATA-3 mRNA and protein (P<0.01). Correlation analysis showed that there were correlations between T-bet, GATA-3, Foxp3 expressions and IL-4, IFN-γ levels (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: There is a relationship between inflammation and imbalance of in the expression of T-bet, GATA-3, Foxp3 in COPD.