Gene Expression and Levels of Tgf-Β in Pbmc Is Associated With Severity of Symptoms in Chronic Heart Failure



Saadati S¹ ; Eskandari V² ; Rahmani F^{3, 4} ; Mahmoudi MJ⁵ ; Rahnemoon Z⁶ ; Rahmati Z¹ ; Gorzin F¹ ; Hedayat M^{7, 8} ; Amirzargar AA¹ ; Rezaei N^{3, 8}
Source: Avicenna Journal of Medical Biotechnology Published:2020

Abstract

Background: TGF-β1 is known to promote cardiac remodeling and fibrosis during Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). In this study, an attempt was made to investigate expression of Transforming Growth Factor beta1 (TGF-β1) and relative expansion or contraction of regulatory T-cell (Tregs) population in peripheral blood of patients with Chronic Heart Failure (CHF). Methods: Real-time PCR assay was used to investigate expression and post-stimulation levels of TGF-β1 in cell culture supernatant of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) of 42 patients with CHF and 42 controls. Flow cytometry was used to identify relative counts of CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ Tregs. Results: PBMCs in patients with CHF expressed higher levels of TGF-β1 compared to controls. Post-stimulation levels of TGF-β1 expression were significantly higher in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class IV patients compared to stage I patients. Tregs were significantly expanded in PBMC in CHF, while the CD4+ helper T-cells were unchanged. Treg expansion was more significant in NYHA functional class I patients compared to class IV patients. Conclusion: Expansion of Treg population in CHF provides an extrinsic source for TGF-β1 production to induce reactive fibrosis and cardiac remodeling. Relative decrease in Treg population at advanced stages of CHF is indicative of a loss of regulatory characteristics in these cells and unopposed proinflammatory milieu. © 2020, Avicenna Journal of Medical Biotechnology.