Afshineh Latifynia; Ali Khamesipour; Saied Bokaie; Nematollah Khansari
Volume 9, Issue 3 , September 2012, , Pages 208-214
Abstract
Background: Leishmania is a significant health problem in many parts of the world. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) plays an essential role in Leishmania major infections. Objective: To study the pro-inflammatory cytokines and antioxidants in four groups of cutaneous leishmaniasis patients. Methods: 39 patients ...
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Background: Leishmania is a significant health problem in many parts of the world. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) plays an essential role in Leishmania major infections. Objective: To study the pro-inflammatory cytokines and antioxidants in four groups of cutaneous leishmaniasis patients. Methods: 39 patients were divided into four groups of: 1) active (acute phase of treatment); 2) non-healing (received treatment for almost two years without recovery); 3) healing (recovered upon treatment); and 4) healed (previously received treatment and achieved complete remission) patients. Serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1B, TNF-α, IL-6) and serum antioxidant levels were measured by ELISA and FRAP assays, respectively. Results: While serum antioxidant levels were elevated in the non-healing group, there was no difference among other groups of patients and healthy controls in this regard. Interleukin-1β showed the highest level in the non-healing group followed by the other groups of patients. The mean serum IL-6 level was highest in the non-healing group, but showed no significant change in the other groups. TNF-α and IL-1β levels were non-significantly elevated in the sera of active and non-healing patients. Conclusion: Pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6 maybe related to the progression of leishmaniasis. Serum antioxidant levels maybe correlated with patient response to drug treatment.
Samaneh Arab; Masoumeh Motamedi; Nematollah Khansari; Seied Mohammad Moazzeni; Zahra Gheflati; Jamshid Hadjati
Volume 3, Issue 3 , September 2006, , Pages 99-105
Abstract
Background: Bacterial DNA has immunostimulatory effects on different types of immune cells such as dendritic cells (DCs). Application of DCs as a cellular adjuvant represents a promising approach in the immunotherapy of infectious disease and cancers. Objectives: To investigate the effect of tumor antigen ...
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Background: Bacterial DNA has immunostimulatory effects on different types of immune cells such as dendritic cells (DCs). Application of DCs as a cellular adjuvant represents a promising approach in the immunotherapy of infectious disease and cancers. Objectives: To investigate the effect of tumor antigen pulsed DCs in the presence of CpG-1826 in treatment of a murine model of cancer. Methods: WEHI-164 cells (Balb/c derived fibrosarcoma cell line) were injected subcutaneously in the right flank of mice. Bone marrow cells were cultured in the presence of GM-CSF and IL- 4. After 5 days, tumor lysate, CpG-1826, and oligodeoxynucleosides, as control, were added to the culture media and incubated for 2 days. Cytokine production in DCs culture media was measured by ELISA. Then DCs were injected subcutaneously around the tumor site in the right flank of mice. Tumor growth rate was monitored in case and control groups. Two weeks after DCs immunotherapy, cytotoxic assay was conducted using various amounts of effector (splenic T cells) and target cells (WEHI-164 or CT26) for 6 h. Results: Immunotherapy with DCs treated with CpG led to a significant increase in the activity of cytotoxic T cells and decreased tumor growth in immunized mice. In the control group which received DCs without CpG treatment, no change in cytotoxic activity and tumor growth rate was detected. Conclusion: The current study suggests that specific anti tumor immune responses can be induced by DCs matured with CpG and proposes CpG usage in DCs targeted clinical strategies.
