Zeinab Amirkhani; Mehrosadat Alavi; Mehdi Kalani; Ali Alavianmehr; Shirin Farjadian
Abstract
Background: Thyroid cancer and radioactive iodine (RAI) ablation for postsurgical management may lead to uncontrolled inflammation. Objective: This study was intended to assess the prophylactic and therapeutic immunomodulatory effects of omega-3 fatty acids in patients with differentiated thyroid ...
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Background: Thyroid cancer and radioactive iodine (RAI) ablation for postsurgical management may lead to uncontrolled inflammation. Objective: This study was intended to assess the prophylactic and therapeutic immunomodulatory effects of omega-3 fatty acids in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Methods: A total of 85 patients with DTC were allocated into two groups based on RAI dosage after thyroidectomy. Patients in each group were randomly distributed into three subgroups: G1 with RAI ablation only, G2 treated with omega-3 for 30 days before RAI ablation, and G3 treated with omega-3 for 30 days after RAI ablation. Fifteen healthy individuals were included as controls. Serum cytokine levels including IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, IL-22, TNF-α and IFN-γ were determined by cytometric bead assay. Results: IL-4, IL-6, IL-21 and IL-22 levels in patients with DTC were higher than in the healthy controls. Regardless of RAI dosage, IL-6 showed an increasing trend after RAI ablation. IL-4, IL-22, and IL-17A remained at considerably higher levels than in the healthy controls after RAI ablation. Within-group comparisons showed a significant reduction in Th1+Th17/Th2+Th22 ratio in G2 patients 1 week after RAI ablation. Between-group comparisons showed increased IL-10 levels in G3 compared with G1 patients one week after high-dose RAI ablation. In G3, Th1+Th17/Th2+Th22 and Th1+Th17/Th2+Th9+Th22 ratios were remarkably lesser than in G2 patients 1 month after intermediate-dose RAI ablation. Conclusion: Our results showed better anti-inflammatory effects of omega-3 when it was used therapeutically after RAI ablation in patients with DTC than when it was used prophylactically before RAI.
Shamsi Noorpisheh Ghadimi; Shirin Farjadian; Gholam Reza Hatam; Mehdi Kalani; Bahador Sarkari
Abstract
Background: Toll like receptors play a major role in immune responses against Leishmania parasites. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of vaccination with live attenuated L. major and TLR4 agonist in protection against L. major infection. Methods: Attenuated L. major was prepared by continuous sub-culturing ...
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Background: Toll like receptors play a major role in immune responses against Leishmania parasites. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of vaccination with live attenuated L. major and TLR4 agonist in protection against L. major infection. Methods: Attenuated L. major was prepared by continuous sub-culturing of the parasite. A total of 90 mice were assigned to 9 groups including 6 groups of BALB/c (G1-6) and 3 groups (G7-9) of C57BL/6 mice. Group 1 was the control groups, group 2 received the wild-type L. major promastigotes, group 3 the attenuated line, group 4 the TLR4 agonist, group 5 the wild-type L. major and TLR4 agonist, and group 6 the attenuated line along with TLR4 agonist. Group 7 was control, group 8 received wild-type L. major and group 9 the wild-type along with TLR4 agonist. Vaccinated mice were then challenged with wild-type of L. major. Lesion size, parasite burden, and the expression levels of IL-4, IFN-γ, IL-2, 1L-17A, IL-10, TGF-β and TLR4 were evaluated before the challenge while parasite burden and lesion size were evaluated. Results: Vaccinated mice with a TLR4 agonist or attenuated L. major plus TLR4 agonist produced the highest levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-17A. Post-challenge analysis revealed that mice vaccinated with the attenuated line along with TLR4 agonist displayed the lowest lesion size and parasite load. These mice developed a predominant Th1 immune response. Conclusion: Vaccination with the attenuated L. major along with TLR4 agonist promotes a Th1-mediated immune response which leads to the protection of BALB/c mice against L. major infection.
Nazanin Nazari; Shirin Farjadian
Volume 13, Issue 3 , September 2016, , Pages 178-185
Abstract
Background: HLA-G is a nonclassical HLA class I molecule which, when elevated in tumor cells, is one of the main factors involved in tumor evasion of immune responses including NK and T cells. Objective: To evaluate the effect of HLA-G downregulation on NK cell cytotoxicity in tumor cell lines. Methods: ...
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Background: HLA-G is a nonclassical HLA class I molecule which, when elevated in tumor cells, is one of the main factors involved in tumor evasion of immune responses including NK and T cells. Objective: To evaluate the effect of HLA-G downregulation on NK cell cytotoxicity in tumor cell lines. Methods: The expression level of HLA-G was measured by real-time PCR and flowcytometry after transfection of SKOV3 by shRNA.1, which targets specific sequences in exon 4, or shRNA.2, which targets both exons 4 and 6. NK-92MI cell cytotoxicity against transfected or untransfected target cell lines was measured with the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. The Jeg-3 cell line was used as a positive control. Results: Membrane-bound HLA-G expression levels decreased significantly in both cell lines after transfection with both shRNAs compared to their corresponding untransfected cells (p<0.05). Jeg-3 cells were better lysed than SKOV3 cells by NK cells during the first 48 h after transfection with both shRNAs. Compared to untransfected cells, shRNA.1-transfected SKOV3 cells were significantly more lysed by NK cells 24 h post-transfection (p=0.043). Conclusion: As a clinical approach, HLA-G downregulation with shRNA may be effective in cancer therapy by improving immune cell activation.
Shirin Farjadian; Shahrzad Rahimifar; Nasrollah Erfani; Ramin Lotfi
Volume 10, Issue 1 , March 2013, , Pages 31-39
Abstract
Background: A possible mechanism by which hyperthermia enhances tumor immunogenicity is the induction of NKG2D ligands on tumor cells. Although the expression of MHC class I chain-related protein A and B (MICA/B) has previously been reported in different carcinomas, there is no information about MICA/B ...
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Background: A possible mechanism by which hyperthermia enhances tumor immunogenicity is the induction of NKG2D ligands on tumor cells. Although the expression of MHC class I chain-related protein A and B (MICA/B) has previously been reported in different carcinomas, there is no information about MICA/B expression in liposarcomas. Objective: To investigate MICA/B induction in a human liposarcoma cell line (SW-872) after thermotherapy. Methods: SW-872 and HeLa cell lines were subjected to thermal stress for 1 h at 42, 44 and 46C, and after 2, 4 and 6 h of incubation at 37C, MICA/B expression was assessed at the mRNA and protein levels. Results: Despite high levels of MICA/B transcripts in SW-872 cells at baseline, the expression of these genes decreased significantly at both the mRNA and protein levels after almost all thermal treatments. Conclusion: Our data conclude that thermotherapy under 42-46°C had no effect on MICA/B induction on SW-872 liposarcoma cell line but the effects of fever-range temperatures remain to be tested on this cell line.
Mozhgan Moghtaderi; Shirin Farjadian; Sara Kashef; Soheila Alyasin; Maryam Afrasiabi; Marzieh Orooj
Volume 9, Issue 1 , March 2012, , Pages 32-38
Abstract
Background: Atopic dermatitis is a major public health problem, often starting in early childhood and sometimes followed by other allergic diseases. Although hypersensitivity to foods is assumed to play an essential role in the development of atopic dermatitis in some patients, little is known about ...
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Background: Atopic dermatitis is a major public health problem, often starting in early childhood and sometimes followed by other allergic diseases. Although hypersensitivity to foods is assumed to play an essential role in the development of atopic dermatitis in some patients, little is known about common food allergens in Iranian children with atopic dermatitis. Objectives: This study was designed to identify probable food allergens in Iranian children with atopic dermatitis and find the relationship between food sensitization and the severity of atopic dermatitis. Methods: This study included 90 children aged 2-48 months with atopic dermatitis. Skin prick tests for cow’s milk, hen’s egg, almond, potato and soybean were done. Serum specific IgE to 20 food allergens was also screened. Results: Among children with atopic dermatitis, the frequency of food sensitization was 40% by skin prick test and 51% by food-specific IgE. Children with atopic dermatitis were most commonly sensitized to cow’s milk (31%), hen’s egg (17.7%), tree nuts (17.7%), wheat (12.2%), potato (11.1%), tomato (8.8%) and peanut (8.8%). In 42 children with moderate to severe eczema, sensitivity to food allergens was 78.5% by skin prick test and 88% by serum specific IgE evaluation. Conclusion: Our results showed that cow’s milk, hen’s egg and tree nuts were the most common food allergens in Iranian children with atopic dermatitis. Sensitization to foods was much higher in patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. Determining specific IgE in children with atopic dermatitis can be helpful in managing these patients.
Gholam-Ali Yousefipour; Zahra Salami; Shirin Farjadian
Volume 6, Issue 2 , June 2009, , Pages 99-102
Abstract
Background: Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder of neuromuscular junction characterized by skeletal muscle weakness and fatigability. Different genes may control the induction and clinical presentation of this disease. Various HLA alleles are reported as predisposing or protective genetic elements ...
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Background: Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder of neuromuscular junction characterized by skeletal muscle weakness and fatigability. Different genes may control the induction and clinical presentation of this disease. Various HLA alleles are reported as predisposing or protective genetic elements in myasthenia gravis. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the probable association between HLA-DQ alleles and myasthenia gravis in southern Iranian patients. Methods: HLA-DQA1 and DQB1 alleles were determined in 104 sporadic patients with myasthenia gravis using polymerase chain reaction - restriction fragment length polymorphism method and the results were compared to 816 healthy controls. Results: HLA-DQA1*0101/2 (39.4%) and DQB1*0502 (21.6%) were the most frequent alleles in southern Iranian patients with myasthenia gravis. These alleles revealed positive associations with the disease with relative risks of 1.69 and 2.41, respectively. The most common haplotype was DQA1*0101/2-DQB1*0502 in these patients. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, DQA1*0101/2 and DQB1*0502 alleles might be considered as predisposing genetic factors to myasthenia gravis while DQA1*0501, DQB1*0301 and *0602/3 show protective roles against this disease.
Shirin Farjadian; Mehrdad Lotfazar; Abbas Ghaderi
Volume 5, Issue 3 , September 2008, , Pages 171-176
Abstract
Background: Papillon-Lefevre syndrome (PLS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by palmoplantar hyperkeratosis and early development of aggressive pe-riodontitis. Although cathepsin C (CTSC) gene mutations have been established in about 70-80% of PLS patients, it is assumed that the ...
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Background: Papillon-Lefevre syndrome (PLS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by palmoplantar hyperkeratosis and early development of aggressive pe-riodontitis. Although cathepsin C (CTSC) gene mutations have been established in about 70-80% of PLS patients, it is assumed that the patients may have dysfunctioning of immune defense mechanisms. Objective: To assess the association of HLA class II genes and PLS. Methods: HLA class II genes were typed in nine Iranian PLS patients and their family members and the results were compared to 816 Iranian healthy sub-jects. Results: The results of this study revealed that DRB1*0101 and DRB1*0301 al-leles were more frequent in PLS patients than in normal controls. However, there was no significant difference between PLS patients and normal controls. Moreover, the same haplotypes and genotype combinations were also observed in some patients and their healthy siblings. Conclusion: The results of this study showed no strong association between HLA class II alleles and PLS.
Sara Kashef; Farid Ghazizadeh; Ali Derakhshan; Shirin Farjadian; Soheila Alyasin
Volume 5, Issue 3 , September 2008, , Pages 181-184
Abstract
Background: Infection is now the most common cause of morbidity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). There is lack of information regarding the specific antibody forma-tion in response to vaccines in young SLE patients. Objective: To determine the efficacy of anti-tetanus antibody response in young ...
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Background: Infection is now the most common cause of morbidity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). There is lack of information regarding the specific antibody forma-tion in response to vaccines in young SLE patients. Objective: To determine the efficacy of anti-tetanus antibody response in young patients with SLE. Methods: Forty SLE pa-tients with mean age of 14.1 years (range: 7-21) and 60 age and sex matched normal con-trols were enrolled in this study over a period of one year. Diagnosis was made according to the ACR criteria and disease activity was determined based on SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). All patients and controls had received the complete schedule of tetanus vaccinations consisting of three primary doses and two boosters by the age of six. Serum immunoglobulins and anti-tetanus antibody titers were determined by Nephelometry and ELISA. Anti-tetanus antibody levels greater than 0.1 IU/ml have been suggested as pro-tective. Results: In all of the patients and controls anti-tetanus antibody titer was > 0.1 IU/ml. IgG, IgA, and IgM levels were in the normal range for their age. Mean disease ac-tivity score was 4.9 (range: 0-16). There was no association between SLEDAI score and anti-tetanus antibody response. Conclusion: School age onset and immunosuppressive therapy does not seem to interfere with development of consistent immunity to tetanus vaccine in young SLE patients.
Shirin Farjadian; Nasrin Kiyanimanesh; Abbas Abbaszadegan; Mehrdad Lotfazar
Volume 4, Issue 4 , December 2007, , Pages 241-245
Abstract
Background: Papillon-Lefevre Syndrome (PLS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by diffused palmoplantar keratoderma and severe periodontitis. Increased susceptibility to infections due to impairment of the immune system is considered to be involved in pathoetiology of this disease. ...
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Background: Papillon-Lefevre Syndrome (PLS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by diffused palmoplantar keratoderma and severe periodontitis. Increased susceptibility to infections due to impairment of the immune system is considered to be involved in pathoetiology of this disease. Objective: According to the crucial function of HLA molecules in immune responses and association between certain HLA class I alleles and some periodontal or skin diseases, this study was designed to evaluate the relation of HLA class I genes and PLS. Method: HLA class I genes were typed by PCR-SSP (Polymerase Chain Reaction with Sequence Specific Primers) method in eight Iranian PLS patients and 89 healthy controls. Results: The results showed no sig-nificant difference between the patients and controls. Moreover, identical haplotypes or genotypes were also observed among PLS patients and their healthy siblings. Conclu-sion: It seems that further genes are involved in genetic susceptibility to PLS. However the results of this study showed no significant association between HLA class I genes and PLS, molecular analyses of killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) and MHC class I chain-related gene A and B (MICA/B) in PLS may clear many obscure points about the genetic factors involved in these diseases.
Shirin Farjadian; Abbas Ghaderi
Volume 4, Issue 2 , June 2007, , Pages 85-93
Abstract
Background: Anthropological studies based on highly polymorphic HLA genes pro-vide useful information for bone marrow donor registry, forensic medicine, disease as-sociation studies, as well as designing peptide vaccines against tumors, and infectious or autoimmune diseases. Objective: This study was ...
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Background: Anthropological studies based on highly polymorphic HLA genes pro-vide useful information for bone marrow donor registry, forensic medicine, disease as-sociation studies, as well as designing peptide vaccines against tumors, and infectious or autoimmune diseases. Objective: This study was designed to investigate the genetic relationship of Iranian Arabs and Jews using HLA-class II genetic diversity Methods: HLA-DRB1, DQA1, and DQB1 allele frequencies and haplotypes were determined in 134 Iranian Arabs from two different communities and 91 Iranian Jews using PCR/RFLP and PCR/SSP methods. Results: Neighbor-joining analyses showed a closer genetic relationship between Iranian Arabs and Iranian Jews than between either Iranian Arabs and Middle Eastern Arabs or Iranian Jews and other Jews. The results of AMOVA test also revealed no significant difference between these populations and other Iranians. Conclusion: It seems that, Iranian Arabs are originally from the Iranian gene pool and speak Arabic due to their encounter with Arabs. Iranian gene flow to im-migrant Jews followed by their expansion in this country may also explain the close ge-netic relationship among different Iranian ethnic groups.
Shirin Farjadian; Abbas Ghaderi
Volume 3, Issue 3 , September 2006, , Pages 106-113
Abstract
Background: HLA genes are highly polymorphic and certain alleles are frequent only in specific populations. Therefore, HLA is a unique tool for studying the genetic relationship between different populations. Iranians are ethnically diverse people and one of the major ethnic groups in Iran is Lur population ...
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Background: HLA genes are highly polymorphic and certain alleles are frequent only in specific populations. Therefore, HLA is a unique tool for studying the genetic relationship between different populations. Iranians are ethnically diverse people and one of the major ethnic groups in Iran is Lur population inhabiting along the central and southern parts of Zagros Chain Mountain. Objectives: Genetic relationship among three Lur subpopulations was investigated based on HLA class II profiles. Methods: HLA typing was performed using PCR/RFLP and PCR/SSP methods in 154 individuals from three Lur subpopulation living in Luristan, Kohkiloyeh/ Boyerahmad, and Chahar-Mahal/ Bakhtiari. Results: The most common DRB1 allele in Lurs of Luristan and Kohkiloyeh/ Boyerahmad was *1103=4 while DRB1*0701 was the most common allele in Bakhtiaris. DQA1*0501 and DQB1*0301 were the most frequent alleles and DRB1*1103=04-DQA1*0501-DQB1*0301 was the predominant haplotype in the three studied subpopulations. Neighbor-joining tree based on Nei's genetic distances and correspondence analysis according to DRB1, DQA1, and DQB1 allele frequencies showed a close genetic relationship between Lurs of Luristan and Lurs of Kohkiloye/ Boyerahmad and they were well separated from Bakhtiaris. The results of AMOVA revealed no significant difference between the three studied groups of Lurs and other major ethnic groups of Iran. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that Bakhtiaris were genetically far from the two other Lur subpopulations. Despite a probable common ancestor, this genetic difference might be explained by Bakhtiaris admixture with other Zagros inhabitants due to their nomadic life style.
