Background/aims: Dysregulation of T cell response is thought to play an important role in the immunopathogenesis of autoimmune hepatitis. However, no consensus has yet been reached regarding the implications of a distinct T cell subset in the pathogenesis of this progressive liver disease. Therefore, T-bet and GATA-3 expression was examined in patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and in healthy controls. Moreover, the profile of Th1 (IFN-γ) and Th2 (IL-4) cytokine gene expression was analyzed.
Materials and methods: Levels of mRNA transcripts were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using a two-step reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction with SYBR Green.
Results: T-bet and IFN-γ mRNA expression was significantly higher in AIH patients compared to healthy controls (p<0.05), whereas no differences were observed for either GATA-3 or IL-4 mRNA expression (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Alterations in the Th1/Th2 cell balance may be responsible for both disease progression and the resulting complications.