Abstract:

To investigate the roles of FOXP3, GITR and CD25 genes in the pathogenesis of different stages of ulcerative Graves′ disease. MethodsNinety patients with Graves′ disease were averagely divided into three groups: the newly diagnosed group (13 males, 17 females), the remission group (10 males, 20 females) and the recurrence group (11 males, 19 females). Thirty normal persons (14 males, 16 females) served as healthy controls. The levels of FOXP3, GITR and CD25mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were measured by the Light Cycler fluorescence quantitative PCR instrument, and the levels of serum thyroid hormone, TPOAb and TGAb were measured by electrochemiluminescence.  ResultsThe level of FOXP3 mRNA in each Graves′ disease group was significantly lower than in the healthy controls（P＜0.05）， the FOXP3 mRNA level in the remission group was significantly higher than in the newly diagnosed group（P＜0.05）， and the FOXP3 mRNA level in the recurrence group was lower than in the remission group（P＜0.05） but higher than in the newly diagnosed group（P＜0.05）. The level of FOXP3 mRNA in female GD patients was significantly higher than in male GD patients（P＜0.05）. The levels of GITR mRNA and CD25 mRNA in the newly diagnosed and recurrence groups increased compared with that in the healthy controls（P＜0.05）. ConclusionThe FOXP3, GITR and CD25 genes may be involved in the process of Graves′ disease and its recurrence.

Key words: Graves&prime, disease, CD4+/CD25+ regulatory T cells,  , Forkhead box protein