Asthma and diabetes: Possible markers of their co-existence. The possible role of transcription factors GATA-3 and T-bet and negative regulator of transcription SOCS1 in the worsening of asthma

The Aim: of the study is to analyze an expression of transcription factors (GATA3, T-bet) and negative regulator of transcription SOCS1 in peripheral blood of patients with asthma and asthma with diabetes mellitus type 2. Materials and methods: 24 patients with asthma and 21 with co-existence of asthma and diabetes mellitus type 2 were examined.The expression of protein of GATA3, T-bet and negative regulator SOCS1 were analyzed by Western blotting. Expression levels of protein were estimated concerning level of β-actin. Preparation of cell lysates, and the Western blotting were performed through the standard procedure. Results: Asthma patients with diabetes were characterized by significantly higher levels of glucose (fasting), BMI, worse spirometry rates (decrease of FVC, FEV1, ets.) compared with asthma patients alone. GATA3 levels were significantly decreased in patients with asthma-diabetes in comparison with asthma alone (p=0,03) (U-criterion). SOCS1 and T-bet levels were significantly increased in patients with asthma-diabetes in comparison with asthma (p=0,02 and p=0,049) (U-criterion). Conclusion: Transcription factor T-bet, negative regulator SOCS1 play probably an important role in the pathogenesis of co-existence of asthma and diabetes type 2 and may be used as markers of the worsening of these two diseases in such difficult to treat patients (mainly, asthma patients).