Research in Molecular Medicine

en Upregulated Expression of Runt-related Transcription Factor 3 and Interferon Regulatory Factor 4 Genes in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis ايمونولوژي Immunology پژوهشي Research Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a debilitating autoimmune disease presented by chronic inflammation of large joints and central skeleton. The role of various immune cells, including T cell subsets, has been studied in the pathogenesis of AS. Two critical transcription factors, runtrelated transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) and interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4), are involved in the differentiation and function of T lymphocytes. This study compared the gene expression level ofRUNX3 and IRF4 between patients with AS and healthy subjects to understand the impact of these factors in the immunopathogenesis of the disease. Methods: Thirty patients with AS and 30 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals were recruited to the study, and expression of RUNX3 and IRF4 genes was evaluated using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique in their peripheral blood. Results: The expression of RUNX3 and IRF4 genes in AS patients was significantly upregulated compared to the healthy controls (P=0.03 and 0.025, respectively). In addition, there was a direct correlation between IRF4 gene expression and bath ankylosing spondylitis global score (BAS-G) (correlation coefficient=0.38, P=0.04) Conclusion: Gene expression of RUNX3 and IRF4 transcription factors involved in T cells’ differentiation and function was increased in AS. These findings might have prognostic and therapeutic value.   Ankylosing Spondylitis, Interferon Regulatory Factors 4, Quality of life, Runt-Related Transcription Factor 3 235 244 http://rmm.mazums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1270-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Sara Assadiasl saraasadiasl@gmail.com 100319475328460011619 100319475328460011619 No tehran university of medical sciences, molecular immunology research center Narjes Soleimanifar n.soleimanifar20@gmail.com 100319475328460011620 100319475328460011620 No tehran university of medical sciences, molecular immunology research center Abdolrahman Rostamian aristamian@sina.tums.ac.ir 100319475328460011621 100319475328460011621 No Department of Rheumatology, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences Maryam Sadr m.sadr@gmail.com 100319475328460011622 100319475328460011622 No tehran university of medical sciences, molecular immunology research center Hanieh Mojtahedi haniyeh.mojtahdi@gmail.com 100319475328460011623 100319475328460011623 No tehran university of medical sciences, molecular immunology research center Maryam Ahmadi maryamahmadii95@gmail.com 100319475328460011624 100319475328460011624 No Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences Abeda Mazari abedamazari@gmail.com 100319475328460011625 100319475328460011625 No Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences Mohammad Hossein Nicknam mhnicknam@sina.tums.ac.ir 100319475328460011626 100319475328460011626 Yes tehran university of medical sciences, molecular immunology research center