Influence of TBX21 T-1993C variant on autoimmune hepatitis development by Yin-Yang 1 binding

AIM To investigated the mechanism of the association between the TBX21 T-1993C promoter polymorphism and autoimmune hepatitis type 1 (AIH-1) development. METHODS In vivo, In vivo, and reporter analyses were performed to determine the function of transcription factors binding to the T-1993C element of the TBX21 promoter in human CD4+ T and B cell lines. Flow cytometry and quantitative real-time PCR were used to analyze T-box transcription factor (T-bet) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) expressions in CD4+ T cells, B cells and monocytes from the peripheral blood of AIH-1 patients including 5-1993TC and 15-1993TT genotype carriers, and healthy controls including 10-1993TC and 25-1993TT genotype carriers. Furthermore, a range of biochemical indices was measured simultaneously in the blood of AIH-1 patients. RESULTS TBX21-1993C allele created a strong Yin-Yang 1 (YY1)-binding site and decreased transcriptional activity of TBX21 promoter in human CD4+ T and B cells. Higher levels of T-bet and IFN-γ were detected in the circulating CD4+ T cells and B cells of AIH-1 patients carrying the TBX21-1993 TT genotype compared with the patients carrying the -1993 TC genotype and controls with the -1993 TC genotype. T-bet expression levels of circulating T cells and B cells were positively correlated with AIH-1 disease activity. Knockdown of YY1 with siRNA caused increased expression of T-bet and IFN-γ in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in AIH-1 patients. CONCLUSION The repression of TBX21 expression by high-affinity binding of YY1 to the -1993C allele may contribute to a decreased development of AIH-1 via suppression of type 1 immunity.