Hossein Rezvan; Ali Khodadadi; Selman Ali
Volume 11, Issue 2 , June 2014, , Pages 65-73
Abstract
Background: Leishmania is a pathogenic parasite which infects mononuclear cells in vertebrate hosts. Different strategies have been taken to develop immunity against Leishmania . DCs loaded with immunogenic antigen have resulted in different levels of Th1-type immune response and cytotoxic T lymphocytes ...
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Background: Leishmania is a pathogenic parasite which infects mononuclear cells in vertebrate hosts. Different strategies have been taken to develop immunity against Leishmania . DCs loaded with immunogenic antigen have resulted in different levels of Th1-type immune response and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) activity. Objective: To evaluate the potency of DCs primed with soluble Leishmania mexicana antigens (SLA) in developing CTL activity. Methods: DCs were loaded with SLA and injected to Balb/c mice. After two weeks the mice were sacrificed and their splenocytes were used as effector cells in a standard 4-hour cytotoxicity assay against DCs transfected with pcDNA3 containing L. mexicana gp63 gene. Results: Immunization of Balb/c mice with DCs loaded with SLA resulted in high levels of CTL activity against DCs transfected with pcDNA3 containing L. mexicana gp63 gene. Conclusions: The results indicate a high potency for DCs primed with Leishmania antigens in inducing CTL activity, which can be used for developing an immunogenic vaccine against Leishmania.
Mehri Ghafourian; Najmeh Karami; Ali Khodadadi; Roshan Nikbakhat
Volume 11, Issue 2 , June 2014, , Pages 84-96
Abstract
Background: Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) failure with unknown causes are the controversial issues that are probably related to the immune system. Objective: To compare circulating NK cells expressing activation and inhibition surface markers between patients with ...
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Background: Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) failure with unknown causes are the controversial issues that are probably related to the immune system. Objective: To compare circulating NK cells expressing activation and inhibition surface markers between patients with RSA and IVF failure with those of healthy multiparous and successful IVF control women, respectively. Methods: In this case-control study peripheral blood samples were collected from 43 patients who included 23 women with RSA and 20 with IVF failure, plus 43 healthy control women comprising of 36 normal multiparous women and seven women with successful IVF. The expression of CD69, CD94 and CD161 surface markers on CD56+NK cells were assessed using specific monoclonal antibodies by flowcytometry. Results: The percentage of NK cells increased significantly in patients with RSA and in women with IVF failure in comparison to healthy multiparous and successful IVF control groups (p<0.001). The overall expression of CD69, CD94, CD161 were also increased significantly on NK cells in both patient groups compared to control groups (p<0.001). Conclusion: Elevated expression of CD69 and CD161 on NK cells can be considered as immunological risk markers in RSA and IVF failure. However, it is not clear if high expression of CD94 on peripheral blood NK cells is related to abnormal activity of endometrial NK cells.
Maryam Hamidinia; Mehri Ghafourian Boroujernia; Abdolhassan Talaiezadeh; Ghasem Solgi; Maryam Taghdiri; Ali Khodadadi
Volume 10, Issue 1 , March 2013, , Pages 22-30
Abstract
Background: Regulatory T cells (T-regs) have an important role in cancer by suppression of protective antitumor immune responses. Regulatory T cells express the forkhead/winged helix transcription factor (FOXP3) and OX40 molecules which have important regulatory roles in the immune system. Objective: ...
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Background: Regulatory T cells (T-regs) have an important role in cancer by suppression of protective antitumor immune responses. Regulatory T cells express the forkhead/winged helix transcription factor (FOXP3) and OX40 molecules which have important regulatory roles in the immune system. Objective: To evaluate FOXP3 and OX40 transcripts in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of women with breast cancer. Methods: Blood samples from 40 women with histologically-confirmed infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast and 40 healthy volunteer women without a history of malignancy or autoimmune disorders were collected. The abundance of FOXP3 and OX40 gene transcripts were determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Results: There was a significant positive correlation between FOXP3 and OX40 gene expression in women with breast cancer in a stage dependent manner. Conclusion: This finding emphasizes the importance of T-regs as predominant targets for breast cancer immunotherapy.