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Published on: July 19, 2019
FOXP3 gene expression in the blood of Iranian multiple sclerosis patients
Zahra Akbari1, Mohammad Taheri2,3, Abdorreza Jafari1
1Department of Biology, Arsanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arsanjan, Iran.
Introduction:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a heterogeneous disease with an unknown etiology. Both genetic and environmental factors lead to MS disease. Recent studies have revealed the inhibitory role of T regulatory cells in the MS disease. Forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) gene is a transcript of the CD4+CD25+FOXP3 and T regulatory cells that is recently introduced as a factor in determining the lineage of immune cells. Based on these assumptions we investigate the expression of this gene in the peripheral blood of fifty MS patients in comparison to fifty controls.
Material And Methods:
In this case-control study, we investigate the FOXP3 expression in fifty MS patients (30 females (60%) and 20 males (40%), mean age ± SD: 33.3 ± 5.4 years) in comparing to fifty healthy age and sex matched-controls (30 females (60%) and 20 males (40%), mean age ± SD: 34.2 ± 4.8) using real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) in order to explore any association between FOXP3 expression level and MS.
Results:
The expression level of FOXP3 gene was not significantly different between MS patients and controls (p: 0.79). In addition the expression level of the gene was not significantly different between male and female (p: 0.8, p: 0.79, respectively).
Conclusion:
Although, the FOXP3 gene is one of the most important genes in the regulation of the immune cells, according to no significant results of this study it may concluded that the expression of the gene is not different between MS patients and healthy controls at least at mRNA level. So it seems that investigating the protein level of FOXP3, related LNCs and microRNAs could be useful to investigate the relation between this gene and the disease. However, the clinical relevance of FOXP3 in patients with regard to their therapy needs to be further explored by evaluation of genetic background in relation to immune responses in MS patients.
Insights
This study found no significant difference in Forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) gene expression between multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and healthy controls at the mRNA level. Further research into protein levels and other regulatory factors is recommended to understand FOXP3
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Genetics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex neurological disease with unknown causes, influenced by genetic and environmental factors.
- Regulatory T cells play an inhibitory role in MS pathogenesis.
- The Forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) gene is a key regulator of T regulatory cell lineage and immune cell development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression level of the FOXP3 gene in peripheral blood of MS patients compared to healthy controls.
- To explore potential associations between FOXP3 gene expression and the presence of MS.
- To determine if FOXP3 expression differs between genders in MS patients.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 50 MS patients and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
- Real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to measure FOXP3 gene expression.
- Statistical analysis was performed to compare FOXP3 expression levels between groups.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant difference was observed in FOXP3 mRNA expression levels between MS patients and healthy controls (p=0.79).
- FOXP3 gene expression levels did not significantly differ between male and female participants (p=0.8 for males, p=0.79 for females).
Conclusions:
- The study concludes that FOXP3 mRNA expression is not significantly different in MS patients compared to controls.
- Investigating FOXP3 protein levels, long non-coding RNAs (LNCs), and microRNAs may offer further insights into its role in MS.
- Future research should evaluate the clinical relevance of FOXP3 in MS therapy by examining genetic backgrounds and immune responses.
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