A Significant Increase in the Gene Expression of GATA-3 Following the Treatment of Osteoarthritis Patients with Crocin

Javad Poursamimi; Zhaleh Shariati-Sarabi; Jalil  Tavakkol-Afshari; Mojgan Mohammadi

doi:10.18502/ijaai.v21i1.8611

Javad Poursamimi Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
Zhaleh Shariati-Sarabi Rheumatic Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Jalil Tavakkol-Afshari Immunology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Mojgan Mohammadi Immunology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijaai.v21i1.8611

Keywords: Crocin; Crocus; Gene expression; Osteoarthritis; Transcription factors

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is known to be the most prevalent form of joint disease. We conducted this clinical trial to investigate the effects of Krocina^TM, a natural product containing crocin, on the gene expression of unique transcription factors of various T cell subsets in patients with OA.

We collected 40 peripheral blood samples of OA patients receiving Krocina™ and equal number of those who took a placebo (IRCT2015021910507N2, NCT03375814). RNA extraction was performed from the cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the OA patients who received Krocina™ and placebo and SYBR Green Real-time PCR technique was applied to assess the relative gene expression of T-bet, GATA3, ROR-γt, and FOXP3 as the unique transcription factors of various T cell subsets.

The relative gene expression of T-bet and ROR-γt insignificantly decreased in the Krocina™ receiving group as compared to the placebo group. In addition, the relative gene expressions of GATA-3 and FOXP3 after the treatment with Krocina^TM showed a significant and insignificant increase, respectively. Moreover, an insignificant decrease was observed in the gene expression of GATA-3 and FOXP3 in the placebo group. A significant and insignificant decrease in the gene expression of T-bet and ROR- γt was detected in the OA patients who received a placebo. GATA-3 is known as a unique transcription factor for the differentiation of T-cells to the Th2 subset.

The significant increase in the gene expression of GATA-3 in the patients with OA treated with crocin may suggest the beneficial effect of crocin on shifting towards the Th2 subset and enhancing an anti-inflammatory condition.