Maryam Rastin; Mohammad Reza Hatef; Nafise Tabasi; Akram Sheikh; Javid Morad Abbasi; Mahmoud Mahmoudi
Volume 4, Issue 2 , June 2007, , Pages 110-115
Abstract
Background: Systemic Lupus Eyrythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease charac-terized by antibodies to nuclear antigens, particularly anti-dsDNA. Imbalance between production and destruction of immune cells causes cytopenia. Sex hormones have im-munomodulatory effects; estrogen increases the production ...
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Background: Systemic Lupus Eyrythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease charac-terized by antibodies to nuclear antigens, particularly anti-dsDNA. Imbalance between production and destruction of immune cells causes cytopenia. Sex hormones have im-munomodulatory effects; estrogen increases the production of autoantibodies in SLE prone NZB/NZW mice. Objective: To investigate the relationship between sex hor-mones, anti-dsDNA, and lymphocyte subsets in Iranian patients with SLE. Methods: 38 SLE patients (28 females and 10 males) meeting 4 of 11 ACR revised criteria for SLE classification, and 20 age and sex matched healthy individuals (10 females and 10 males) participated in this study. Lymphocyte subsets were analyzed using flow cy-tometric analysis. Serum anti-dsDNA levels and sex hormones concentrations were de-termined using commercial ELISA and RIA kits, respectively. Results: The absolute count of white blood cells, lymphocytes, T lymphocytes (CD3+), T helper cells (CD3+CD4+), B cells (CD19+) and Nk cells (CD3- CD16+CD56+) in SLE patients di-minished significantly in comparison to control group (p<0.05). IgG anti-dsDNA anti-body levels were significantly higher in patients compared to controls as expected (p<0.05). Prolactin increased significantly, while DHEAS showed a significant decrease in SLE patients compared with the controls (p<0.05), however the level of estrogen did not have any significant difference in SLE patients in comparison to controls. Conclusion: Increased concentration of prolactin together with a simultaneous decrease in serum DHEAS in SLE patients are associated with anti-dsDNA elevation and a decrease in almost all lymphocyte subsets.
Reza Farid Hosseini; Farahzad Jabbari Azad; Ali Talaee; Sara Miri; Naghme Mokhber; Farhad Farid Hosseini; Habibollah Esmaeili; Mahmoud Mahmoudi; Hoshang Rafatpanah; Mohammadreza Mohammadi
Volume 4, Issue 1 , March 2007, , Pages 38-43
Abstract
Background: Major Depression Disorder (MDD) is a common disorder with preva-lence of 15% among men and up to 25% among women. In recent years the association of immune system alterations and MDD has been investigated. Assessments of immu-nologic and inflammatory responses in these patients enhance our ...
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Background: Major Depression Disorder (MDD) is a common disorder with preva-lence of 15% among men and up to 25% among women. In recent years the association of immune system alterations and MDD has been investigated. Assessments of immu-nologic and inflammatory responses in these patients enhance our knowledge of the eti-ology and pathogenesis of this disease. Objective: To investigate the changes in immu-noglobulin and cytokine serum levels and lymphocyte subsets in patients with MDD. Methods: We studied 37 adult patients with MDD, diagnosed based on DSM-IV diag-nostic criteria, and 15 healthy controls matched with the patients. Plasma concentration of interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-10, TNF α, and IFN γ were measured by ELISA and serum immunoglobulins by SRID. Total number of NK cells (CD16 and CD56), B cells (CD19), and T cells (CD8, CD4, and CD3) were determined by flow cytometry. Results: We found no significant differences in plasma concentration of IL-4, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and immunoglobulins as well as total number of NK cells, B cells, and T cells between major depressed patients and healthy control subjects. Conclusion: We conclude that in our patients, there were no significant differences in immune system ac-tivity between MDD patients and controls.
Fatemeh Vahedi; Naser Taiebi Meibody; Mahdi KianiZadeh; Mahmoud Mahmoudi
Volume 2, Issue 3 , September 2005, , Pages 134-140
Abstract
Background: DNA immunization with plasmid DNA encoding bacterial, viral, parasitic and tumor antigens has been reported to trigger protective immunity. Objective: To evaluate the use of a DNA immunization strategy for protection against anthrax, a plasmid was constructed. Methods: The partialsequence ...
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Background: DNA immunization with plasmid DNA encoding bacterial, viral, parasitic and tumor antigens has been reported to trigger protective immunity. Objective: To evaluate the use of a DNA immunization strategy for protection against anthrax, a plasmid was constructed. Methods: The partialsequence of protective antigen of Bacillus anthracis, amino acids 175-764, as a potent immunogenic target was selected. The DNA encoding this segment was utilized in the construction of pcDNA3.1+PA plasmid. After intramuscular injection of rats with pcDNA3.1+PA plasmid, the expression of PA was assessed by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry at RNA and protein levels, respectively. We also evaluated the presence of anti-PA antibodies in sera of immunized mice with pcDNA3.1+PA construct using immunoblotting. Results: The integrity of pcDNA3.1+PA construct was confirmed with restriction analysis and sequencing. The expression of PA was detected at RNA and protein levels. The presence of anti-PA antibodies in immunized mice with pcDNA3.1+PA construct was also confirmed. Conclusion: Our results indicate that pcDNA3.1+PA eukaryotic expressing vector could express PA antigen, induce antibody response and may be used as a candidate for DNA vaccine against anthrax.
