Abstract:

Objective To investigate the role of AP-1 in the pathogenesis of chronic idiopathic urticaria （CIU）. Methods By using immunomagnetic separation technology, peripheral blood basophils were isolated from 10 CIU patients and 10 normal human controls followed by the extraction of nuclear protein from the basophils. TransAMTM AP-1 family kit was used to detect the DNA binding activity changes of AP-1 family transcription factors in basophils, and Western blotting to detect the expression of P-c-jun protein. Results There were some differences in the DNA binding activity of AP-1 family transcription factors in basophils between CIU patients and normal controls. The DNA binding activity of Phospho-c-jun, c-fos, Fos-B, Jun-B and Jun-D factors was increased in CIU patients compared with the controls, and the increase in that of P-c-jun and Jun-D was statistically significant （both P ＜ 0.05）. There was an insignificant decrease in the DNA binding activity of Fra-1 factor in the CIU patients compared with the controls （P ＞ 0.05）. The P-c-jun （Ser73） protein expression was higher in CIU patients than that in the controls（0.527 ± 0.312 vs. 0.435 ± 0.042, P ＜ 0.05）, whereas there was no significant difference in the P-c-jun （Ser63） protein expression level. Conclusion Some changes in DNA binding activity of AP-1 and overexpression of P-c-jun （Ser73） protein in basophils may be involved in the pathogenesis of CIU.

Key words: Activating transcription factor 1, Urticaria, Basophils