Downregulation ofHlxClosely Related to the Decreased Expressions ofT-betandRunx3in Patients with Gastric Cancer May Be Associated with a Pathological Event Leading to the Imbalance of Th1/Th2

Abstract

T-betplays an important role in immunoregulation; it induces the differentiation of Th1 together with the homeobox transcription factor geneHlx. Recent studies show thatT-betand Th1-associated factors are critical in regulating tumor development. However, the contributions ofHlxin the occurrence and development of cancer remain unknown. In this study, theHlx,T-bet,Runx3, and IFN-γwere measured in PBMC from patients with gastric cancer and the correlation betweenHlxandT-betor IFN-γwas assessed. The expression levels ofHlx,T-bet, andIFN-γwere significantly decreased, and there was a positive correlation betweenHlxandT-betor IFN-γ. In addition, theRunx3expression was also downregulated with the lowerT-betmRNA level. These results suggested that the decreasedHlxexpression was closely associated withT-betandRunx3downregulations and may contribute to the development of gastric cancer.