Gene expression of FOXP3 and TGF-β1 in the blood of patients with mycosis fungoides, a hospital-based case–control study

Background regulatory t cells (tregs) are foxp3^+ subpopulation of cd4^+ t cells with transforming growth factor (tgf)-β1-mediated immunosuppressive effects. they play a role in the etiopathogenesis of various malignancies including cutaneous t-cell lymphomas. objectives to study the gene expression of foxp3 and tgf-β1 in the blood of mycosis fungoides (mf) patients compared with controls. patients and methods venous blood of 5ml was taken from 25 mf patients and 25 healthy volunteers. samples were subjected to real-time pcr for the measurement of foxp3 and tgf-β1 mrna expression. results although foxp3 mrna levels were significantly higher in patients compared with controls, tgf-β1 mrna levels were significantly lower (p<0.001 and p= 0.025, respectively). no significant difference was found in foxp3 or tgf-β1 mrna blood levels on comparing different cutaneous or tnm stages. conclusion blood expression of tregs (as indicted by foxp3 mrna) is significantly elevated in mf patients compared with controls.