Expression of GATA family of transcription factors in T-cells, monocytes and bronchial biopsies

GATA-binding proteins are a subfamily of zinc finger transcription factors with six members (GATA-1-6) that interact with the GATA deoxyribonucleic ac id (DNA) sequence. This sequence is found in the regulatory regions of many genes including those encoding T-helper 2 (Th2)-like cytokines, receptors, adhesion molecules and enzymes, which may be important in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. The expression of GATA-3, -4 and -6 was investigated in peripheral blood T- lymphocytes and monocytes and bronchial biopsies from 11 normal subjects an d 10 steroid-naive asthmatic patients. Using Western blot analysis, T-cells from asthmatic subjects expressed 5 ti mes the level of GATA-3 compared to that in normals. Confocal microscopy in dicated that GATA-3 expression was both nuclear and cytoplasmic. GATA DNA b inding complex containing GATA-3 was elevated in Th2 cells as determined by electrophorectic mobility shift assay. In contrast, monocytes from normal and asthmatic subjects expressed GATA-4 and -6 in equal amounts, but no GAT A-3 was found. Using immunohistochemistry in bronchial biopsies, epithelial cells expressed high levels of GATA-3, GATA-4 and GATA-6 proteins. Compari son of Western blots of bronchial biopsies showed no significant difference s between normal and asthmatic subjects. In conclusion, the increased expression of GATA-3 in asthmatic T-cells may underlie augmented T-helper 2-like cytokines in this disease. However, the unaltered GATA-3 expression in epithelial cells suggests a distinct role fo r GATA-3 in these cells unrelated to T-helper 2-like cytokine release. Fina lly, no evidence was found for an increased expression of GATA-4 and GATA-6 in asthma.