Analysis of Helios gene expression and Foxp3 TSDR methylation in the newly diagnosed Rheumatoid Arthritis patients

• Published in: Immunological investigations 2018-08, Vol.47 (6), p.632-642
• Main Authors: Zafari, Parisa, Yari, Kheirollah, Mostafaei, Shayan, Iranshahi, Nasrin, Assar, Shirin, Fekri, Adel, Taghadosi, Mahdi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Actins - genetics; Actins - metabolism; Adult; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - genetics; Case-Control Studies; DNA Methylation - genetics; Epigenesis, Genetic - genetics; Epigenetic; Female; Forkhead Transcription Factors - genetics; Forkhead Transcription Factors - metabolism; Foxp3; Gene Expression Regulation - genetics; Helios; Humans; Ikaros Transcription Factor - biosynthesis; Ikaros Transcription Factor - genetics; Male; methylation; Rheumatoid arthritis; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - immunology; TSDR
• ISSN: 0882-0139; 1532-4311
• DOI: 10.1080/08820139.2018.1480029

Background: The control of auto-reactive cells is defective in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Regulatory T (Treg) cells which play a key role in the modulation of immune responses have an impaired function in RA. Foxp3 is a master regulator of Treg cells which its expression is under the tight control of epigenetic mechanisms. In the current study, we analyzed the epigenetic modulation of the Foxp3 Treg-specific demethylated region (TSDR) and Helios gene expression to determine Treg cells alteration in RA patients. Methods: We have recruited 20 newly diagnosed patients with RA and 41 healthy controls in our study. The measurement of Foxp3 and Helios gene expression was performed by the real-time PCR technique and the methylation level of TSDR was analyzed by bisulfite treatment and quantitative methylation-specific PCR (Q-MSP). Results: We found that RA patients had significantly lower level of Foxp3 gene expression and TSDR demethylation compared to healthy subjects (P