Maryam Ayatollahi; Alamtaj Samsami Dehaghani; Ziaedin Tabei
Volume 2, Issue 1 , March 2005, , Pages 50-55
Abstract
Background: Successful pregnancy in allopregnant women depends upon the control of graft rejection mechanisms. It has been suggested that some immunosuppressive cytokines contribute to successful pregnancy and transplantation. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF- β) exhibits potent immunoregulatory ...
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Background: Successful pregnancy in allopregnant women depends upon the control of graft rejection mechanisms. It has been suggested that some immunosuppressive cytokines contribute to successful pregnancy and transplantation. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF- β) exhibits potent immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory properties which might prolong graft survival. Recent studies suggest a role for TGF- β in the generation of T-regulatory lymphocytes which preserves the tolerance to peripheral self antigens and may control the response to allogenic tissues and thereby promote the transplantation tolerance. Also, the function of TGF- β in trophoblast differentiation and hypertension is reported. Objective: To evaluate the maternal serum TGF- β1 level in normal allopregnant women and in pregnancies complicated by preeclampcia (PE). Methods: Sixty one pregnant preeclamptic women (32 cases with severe and 29 with mild PE), 22 normotensive healthy pregnant, and 20 non-pregnant controls constituted the studied groups. The active form of TGF- β1 in serum from all cases was investigated by indirect ELISA technique. Results: The results showed that TGF- β1 level was higher in all three pregnant groups as compared with the nonpregnant controls. No significant changes in serum levels of TGF- β1 were found in PE as compared with the normal pregnancy. Conclusion: TGF-β1 may function as a regulatory factor in fetal allograft survival during pregnancy, and TGF- β1 does not have a pathophysiological role in PE.
Akbar Rajaee; Mohammad Ali Nazarinia; Seyed Modjtaba Hakim; Mitra Amini; Maryam Ayatollahi; Abbas Ghaderi
Volume 1, Issue 2 , September 2004, , Pages 111-117
Abstract
Objective: The clinical value of IgG anticardiolipin antibody in patients with Behçet's disease with or without vascular thrombosis was evaluated. Methods: IgG isotype of anticardiolipin (aCL) antibody was assessed in 40 Behçet's disease (BD) patients with venous or arterial thrombosis, ...
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Objective: The clinical value of IgG anticardiolipin antibody in patients with Behçet's disease with or without vascular thrombosis was evaluated. Methods: IgG isotype of anticardiolipin (aCL) antibody was assessed in 40 Behçet's disease (BD) patients with venous or arterial thrombosis, 40 BD patients without venous or arterial thrombosis and 80 healthy subjects as controls. The levels of IgG aCL were determined by an indirect ELISA method. Color Doppler Sonography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging and conventional angiography were the procedures used for other clinical evaluations. Results: Out of 40 patients with vascular thrombosis, 20(50%) were positive for low to moderate level of IgG aCL. In patients without thrombosis 22(55%) were positive for low to moderate level of IgG aCL while in none (0%) of the healthy subjects the IgG aCL was positive, neither low nor moderate. The number of patients with headache but having a normal cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), was higher in anticardiolipin positive patients without vascular thrombosis as compared to those with vascular thrombosis, (P = 0.001). Arthritis was noticed in both patents groups. 15% of aCL positive patients without thrombosis had arthritis as compared to none in aCL negative patients without thrombosis (P = 0.02). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that although the frequency of IgG aCL was found to be higher in Iranian patients with BD in comparison with the previous reports, except in arthritis the observed elevated IgG aCL does not correlate with clinical disease manifestations, or vascular thrombotic complications.
Sara Kashef; Reza Amin; Maryam Ayatollahi; Abbas Ghaderi
Volume 1, Issue 2 , September 2004, , Pages 117-123
Abstract
Background: Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) can either occur as a primary syndrome or associated with other autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) of IgG and/or IgM isotype in blood, measured by a standardized ELISA is the most acceptable ...
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Background: Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) can either occur as a primary syndrome or associated with other autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) of IgG and/or IgM isotype in blood, measured by a standardized ELISA is the most acceptable laboratory criteria. APS IgG isotype, particularly IgG2 subclass is more strongly associated with thrombosis. Objectives: This study was done to determine the prevalence of IgG aCL and its subclasses in relation to APS symptoms, in a group of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Methods: In this prospective study, 28 JRA and 16 SLE patients, aged 3-18 years, were enrolled. IgG aCL was assayed by standard aCL ELISA. IgG subclasses were also assayed by ELISA on sera with medium to high titers of aCL. ACL assay was performed on at least two occasions for each patient, over 3-6 months period of follow up. Results: 29% (8/28) of JRA patients and 44% (7/16) of SLE patients had aCL. Six of SLE patients displayed APS related manifestations: hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, arterial occlusion, valvular heart disease, livedo reticularis and pulmonary hypertension, but none of them had persistant medium or high titer of aCL. The lack of association of high titer of aCL with APS related symptoms was observed in two patients. The IgG subclasses were primarily IgG1 and IgG3. Conclusion: The prevalence of IgG aCL in this group of pediatric SLE and JRA is not uncommon but it’s relation to clinical manifestations is not clear. IgG1 and IgG3 subclasses were not associated with thrombosis, which is in agreement with previous studies.
