Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 15 5 2016 10 31 386 393 EN Hajar Vaseghi Department of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Gonbad Kavous University, Gonbad Kavous, Iran Mohammad Hossein Sanati National  Research Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran Zohreh Jadali Skin and Stem Cell Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Immunology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2015 12 16 2016 04 04 T cells have been identified as key players in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes. However, the exact role of T-cell subpopulations in this pathway is presently unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess the expression pattern of two lineage-specifying transcription factors GATA-3 and T-bet, which are important in T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th2 cell development, respectively. Gene expression analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was performed using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Plasma levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 were also determined by ELISA. T-bet and IFN-γ gene expression was significantly lower in patients group compared with healthy controls (p<0.05). The expression of GATA-3 was relatively similar in patients and controls; however, IL-4 mRNAs were significantly increased in the PBMCs from patients as compared with normal controls (p<0.05). In addition, a marked increase in plasma IL-4 levels were observed in patient group compared with controls (p<0.001). To the contrary, IFN-γ protein levels were decreased in patients in comparison with controls (p<0.001). These data suggest additional implications of the role of Th1/Th2 imbalance for the immunopathogenesis of type 1 diabetes.   https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/734 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/734/655