Expression of FOXP3 and GATA3 Transcription Factors Among Bronchial Asthmatics in Northern Population

Asthma is a common chronic airways inflammatory disorder in which the expression of genes for the transcription factors FoxP3 and GATA3 plays crucial roles in activation of specific T cells population and pathogenesis of asthma. Recent data have shown that Hb, Eosinophils, total leucocytes count (TLC), absolute eosinophil count (AEC), and IgE, may be involved in adversely influencing the status of several chronic diseases including asthma. In this communication, we have carried out a case control study in order to evaluate the expression of FoxP3, GATA-3 genes in 80 bronchial asthmatic patients using real time polymerase chain reaction technique, and also to analyse and compare the values of Hb, TLC, AEC, and IgE in asthmatics with 80 control subjects. The numbers of eosinophils and total leucocytes and the level of serum IgE were higher in asthmatics compared to healthy subjects. The relative expressions of FoxP3 and GATA-3 genes in control versus asthmatics were 12.42 ± 1.413 versus 5.79 ± 0.260 (P value = < 0.0001) and 4.731 ± 0.350 versus 8.415 ± 0.359 (P value = 0.0043), respectively. The asthmatics displayed comparatively decreased level of FoxP3 expression and higher level of GATA-3 expression. There was a positive and significant correlation between the level of IgE and expression of GATA-3 in asthmatics. Relatively lower level of FoxP3 mRNA expression in bronchial asthmatics may be linked with the sustained inflammatory process and decreased immune tolerance by asthmatics. A positive correlation of GATA-3 expression with the increase in IgE level shows it to be a characteristic of asthma. However, extensive work is required to delineate the targets involved in the pathogenesis of asthma for adequate therapeutic interventions.