Effect Of Transforming Growth Factor-β On The Experession Of Forkhead Box Protein-3 In The CD4~+ T Cell In Children With Kawasaki Disease

Objective To investigate the effect of Transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) and associated signaling on the expression of forkhead box protein-3(Foxp3) in children with Kawasaki Disease.Methods Twenty children with KD were enrolled into the study. The proportions of CD4~+CD25~+Foxp3high T cells (Treg) in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometric analysis. Plasma TGF-βconcentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was used to evaluate the levels of Foxp3, TGF-βand the molecules-associated TGF-βsignaling and Notch signaling. Methylation patterns of Foxp3 promoter were obtained by methylation-specific-PCR and Real time PCR.Results 1.The proportions of peripheral Treg cells and the expression of Foxp3 mRNA in KD group were significantly lower(P<0.05) 2.Decreased TGF-βconcentrations and mRNA were observed in KD group (P<0.05) 3.The expression levels of receptors and downstream target gene of TGF-βwere decreased in KD group(P<0.05). Demethylation status of the Foxp3 promoter in KD group were lower (P<0.05). 4.The expression levels of ligands of Notch and Jagged1 and Hes1 were decreased in KD group(P<0.05), while the differences being not significant only as to Jagged2 (P>0.05).Conclusions This study suggests that decreased TGF-βmight be involved in decreased Foxp3 in children with Kawasaki Disease.