Mitra Rafiee; Marjan Gharagozloo; Ataollah Ghahiri; Ferdous Mehrabian; Mohammad R. Maracy; Shirin Kouhpayeh; Ina Laura Pieper; Abbas Rezaei
Volume 12, Issue 4 , December 2015, , Pages 252-262
Abstract
Background: Recurrent miscarriage (RM) affects 2-5% of pregnant women. Paternal lymphocyte immunotherapy is a common treatment for RM patients but the outcome has not been consistent. Therefore, combined therapy with other immunosuppressive drugs such as 1 a, 25-dihydroxy-vitamin-D3 (vitamin D3) may ...
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Background: Recurrent miscarriage (RM) affects 2-5% of pregnant women. Paternal lymphocyte immunotherapy is a common treatment for RM patients but the outcome has not been consistent. Therefore, combined therapy with other immunosuppressive drugs such as 1 a, 25-dihydroxy-vitamin-D3 (vitamin D3) may improve the outcome. Objectives: To investigate the effect of vitamin D3 on the balance of two essential T cells subsets, T helper (Th) 17 and T regulatory (Treg) cells, which contribute to the immune tolerance during pregnancy. Methods: The expression levels of CD4 and forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3) in Treg cells, and the expression levels of CD4 and IL- 17 in Th17 cells, were evaluated pre- and 3 months post-immunotherapy in RM patients treated with a combination of paternal lymphocytes and vitamin D3 compared with RM patients receiving lymphocyte immunotherapy alone. Results: Vitamin D3 therapy decreased the frequency of Th17 cells in addition to reducing the Th17/Treg ratio in peripheral blood of RM patients compared with the control group (p <0.05). Conclusion: Considering that RM patients have a higher Th17/Treg ratio in peripheral blood, vitamin D3 may be a candidate therapeutic approach in this disease.
Afshin Namdar; Hamid Reza Mirzaei; Farhad Jadidi-Niaragh; Mahboubeh Ashourpour; Maryam Ajami; Jamshid Hadjati; Abbas Rezaei
Volume 12, Issue 3 , September 2015, , Pages 176-187
Abstract
Background: Melanoma progression and metastasis is suggested to be mediated by increased accumulation of myeloid derived suppressor cells. Various chemotherapeutic drugs such as 5-Fluorouracil in single low concentration have the capacity, at least in part, to reverse tumor progression by reducing myeloid ...
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Background: Melanoma progression and metastasis is suggested to be mediated by increased accumulation of myeloid derived suppressor cells. Various chemotherapeutic drugs such as 5-Fluorouracil in single low concentration have the capacity, at least in part, to reverse tumor progression by reducing myeloid derived suppressor cellsmediated immunosuppression. Objective: To assess whether multiple low doses of 5- fluorouracil could repress myeloid derived suppressor cells in low frequency and, in turn, could enhance anti-tumor responses and promote a more prolonged survival in a murine melanoma model. Methods: Fifty milligram per kilogram body weight dose of 5-Flourouracil was administered intraperitoneally 4 times with 3-day intervals to C57BL/6 mice after B16 melanoma tumor models were established. The frequency and suppressive functions of myeloid derived suppressor cells and induction of anti-tumor CD8+ T cells as well as tumor growth and survival were evaluated in drug treated and untreated mice. Results: Our results demonstrated that this therapeutic strategy increases the overall mice survival (p≤0.01) and induces melanoma-specific CD8+T cell immunity (p≤0.01) by reducing the frequency of myeloid derived suppressor cells (p≤0.01) as well as their immune suppressive functions (p≤0.05). Conclusion: Altogether, our data suggest that 5-fluorouracil in multiple low regimens might be used to overcome tumor immunosuppression and improve the efficacy and outcome of antitumor immune responses in a mouse model.
Samira Ghorbani Gazar; Alireza Andalib; Mohammad Hashemi; Abbas Rezaei
Volume 9, Issue 1 , March 2012, , Pages 53-60
Abstract
Background: Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial disorder with chronic inflammatory conditions in which immune cells play a significant role in its pathogenic process. Regulatory T cells (Treg), as a part of immune system, are involved in controlling autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Quantitative ...
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Background: Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial disorder with chronic inflammatory conditions in which immune cells play a significant role in its pathogenic process. Regulatory T cells (Treg), as a part of immune system, are involved in controlling autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Quantitative and/or functional alteration of Tregs has been shown to play an atheroprotective role and may also promote plaque stabilization. Objective: To assess if inducible costimulatory molecule (ICOS) expression on one subtype of Treg cells with high suppressive potential correlates with the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Methods: Patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and/or stable angina (SA), diagnosed as atherosclerosis by angiography, and a group of individuals with normal coronary angiography (NCA) were recruited for the present study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were prepared and the expression of ICOS, Foxp3 and CD4 molecules was tested by flowcytometry. Results: The percentage of CD4+Foxp3+ Treg cells was reduced in MI group compared to NCA and SA groups (p<0.005). Evaluation of the two Treg subsets according to ICOS expression showed a decreased ICOS+/ICOS- Treg ratio in MI and SA groups compared to NCA individuals (p=0.002 and p=0.048, respectively). Conclusion: The present data indicate that Tregs and its ICOS+ subsets are decreased in patients with MI or SA, suggesting a potential role for Treg in atherosclerosis progression or onset of acute coronary syndrome.
Hasan Shemirani; Abbas Rezaei
Volume 3, Issue 2 , June 2006, , Pages 66-69
Abstract
Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the most common and serious diseases resulting from coronary artery occlusion and major reduction in blood flow. Streptokinase as a thrombolytic is considered the first and most important therapeutic intervention for reperfusion following MI in most countries ...
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Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the most common and serious diseases resulting from coronary artery occlusion and major reduction in blood flow. Streptokinase as a thrombolytic is considered the first and most important therapeutic intervention for reperfusion following MI in most countries including Iran. Our previous study showed that, the prevalence of high antibody titers against streptokinase was 13.5% in the studied population from Iran, which was 2.5 times more common than data from other studies. Objective: To evaluate anti-streptokinase antibody titers before and immediately after streptokinase administration and its relation to reperfusion therapy success rates. Methods: A total of 200 patients with acute MI was selected. Antibodies against streptokinase were measured before and 2 days after administration of streptokinase. Before streptokinase administration and every hour after streptokinase administration, for 3 consecutive hours, an ECG was taken from each participant and changes were evaluated in relation to antibody levels. Results: Out of 200 patients, 42 (21%) had high levels of antibody titer. Out of these 42 patients, 13 (6.5%) still had measurable levels of anti-streptokinase antibody after streptokinase administration. Conclusion: Our results show the ability of the antistreptokinase antibody to neutralize the effects of streptokinase.