Morteza Hosseinzadeh; Mohsen Nafar; Pedram Ahmadpoor; Farshid Noorbakhsh; Mir Saeed Yekaninejad; Mohammad Hossein Niknam; Aliakbar Amirzargar
Volume 14, Issue 1 , March 2017, , Pages 24-34
Abstract
Background: The incidence of ischemic reperfusion injury (IRI) in early phase post-transplantation and activation of toll-like receptor (TLR-2) and TLR-4 remarkably impact the outcome of a renal allograft. Objective: To investigate whether the expression of TLRs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells ...
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Background: The incidence of ischemic reperfusion injury (IRI) in early phase post-transplantation and activation of toll-like receptor (TLR-2) and TLR-4 remarkably impact the outcome of a renal allograft. Objective: To investigate whether the expression of TLRs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) can predict the clinical outcome of kidney allografts. Methods: We obtained blood samples from 52 renal transplant patients before transplant, and 2, 90, and 180 days post-transplantation in order to analyze the surface expressions of TLR-2 and TLR-4 on peripheral blood monocytes. The expression patterns of TLR-2 and TLR-4 were compared between patients with graft dysfunction (GD) and those with well-functioning graft (WFG). Results: Significantly different mean dynamic changes in surface expression of TLR-2, according to percentage of TLR-2+ cells, between (the GD and WFG) groups existed at most time-points before and after renal transplantation (p=0.007) with the exception of day 2 post-transplantation. We observed significantly higher mean fluorescence intensities of TLR-2 and TLR-4 on CD14+ cells in the GD group compared to the WFG group. This finding was particularly observed 180 days post-transplantation (p=0.001). Based on TLR-2 and TLR-4 protein expression for each step, multiple logistic regression and ROC curve analysis revealed that an increase in CD14+ TLR-2+ monocytes within the 90 days post-transplantaton was associated with increased risk of GD at 180 and 365 days post-transplantation [odds ratio (OR)=1.27, p=0.005)]. Conclusion: Sequential monitoring of TLR-2 and TLR-4 expression patterns in peripheral blood monocytes appear to be prognostic and predictive biomarkers for early and late kidney allograft outcomes.
Hedieh Matloubi; Mohammad Vodjgani; Abbass Ali Nasehi; Mohammad Hossein Niknam; Anoushirvan Kazemnejad; Eisa Salehi; Tahereh Aboufazeli; Zahra Gheflati
Volume 4, Issue 1 , March 2007, , Pages 32-37
Abstract
Background: Apart from genetic and environmental factors, activation of autoreactive mechanisms has been proposed to play a role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. In re-cent years, considerable work has been carried out to understand the role and contribution of the immune system in this disease. ...
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Background: Apart from genetic and environmental factors, activation of autoreactive mechanisms has been proposed to play a role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. In re-cent years, considerable work has been carried out to understand the role and contribution of the immune system in this disease. Objective: To investigate the T cell response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and determine the serum levels of anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), anti-cytoplasmic antibody (ACA), and circulating immune complexes (CIC) in schizophrenic patients. Methods: A total of 30 drug-free schizophrenic patients and 42 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. T cell proliferation in response to PHA was measured using Methyl Thiazol Tetrazolium test. ANA and ACA were measured by indi-rect immunofluorescence. CIC concentration was determined using poly ethylene glycol precipitation assay. Results: Mean PHA response was 1.96 ± 0.83 in patients and 3.72±1.39 in healthy controls (p < 0.001). ANA and CIC concentrations were not signifi-cantly different between two groups. In addition, ACA was detected only in patients. Conclusion: Increased production of ACA together with lower T cell response to mito-gens in our patients provides evidence for the involvement of autoimmune mechanisms in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.
Mohammad Vodjgani; Hedieh Matloubi; Abbas Ali Nasehi; Mohammad Hossein Niknam; Anoushirvan Kazemnejad; Eisa Salehi; Tahereh Aboufazeli; Zahra Gheflati
Volume 2, Issue 2 , June 2005, , Pages 111-116
Abstract
Background: Schizophrenia has been associated with altered immunity. Different studies regarding natural killer cell activity (NKA) in schizophrenic patients have shown inconsistent results. Objectives: To evaluate NK cell activity in schizophrenic patients in comparison with healthy control individuals. ...
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Background: Schizophrenia has been associated with altered immunity. Different studies regarding natural killer cell activity (NKA) in schizophrenic patients have shown inconsistent results. Objectives: To evaluate NK cell activity in schizophrenic patients in comparison with healthy control individuals. Methods: 30 medication-free schizophrenic patients and 41 healthy sex, age and smoking status matched individuals were included in this study. NK cell activity of case and control subjects was measured by Methyl-Thiazol-Tetrazolium (MTT) test. Statistical analysis of the data was done using SPSS 11.5 software. Results: NK activity of patients and normal subjects had a mean of 36.94 ± 26.15 (Mean ± SD) and 22.31 ± 17.92, respectively. A significant increase in NK activity in schizophrenic patients compared to controls (P = 0.011). Among patients, NK activity of smokers was significantly lower than that of non-smokers (P = 0.02). Other demographic factors didn't show any influence on NK activity. Conclusion: The higher activity of NK cells in the schizophrenic patients as compared with the control population could explain the low incidence of cancer in these patients. Decreasing the effect of smoking on NK activity in the patients could be one of the responsible factors for the inconsistency in the results of different studies.
Ali Akbar Amirzargar; Abdol Ali Danesh; Farideh Khosravi; Mohammad Hossein Niknam; Behrouz Nikbin
Volume 1, Issue 2 , September 2004, , Pages 125-129
Abstract
Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) has recently become a major problem in developed countries especially in immune compromised HIV infected individuals. Cytokines, their genes and receptors have been implicated in the protective immunity, pathophysiology and development of tuberculosis. ...
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Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) has recently become a major problem in developed countries especially in immune compromised HIV infected individuals. Cytokines, their genes and receptors have been implicated in the protective immunity, pathophysiology and development of tuberculosis. Material & Methods: In the present study the genotype frequencies of a number of polymorphic genes coding for cytokines or for cytokine receptors have been investigated in a case control study including a group of 40 Iranian PTB patients and 40 healthy individuals. The allelic polymorphism of cytokines SNPs were analyzed according to the protocols of the cytokine component designed for the 13th IHW by the Heidelberg University group. Using PCR-SSP method the following cytokine genes have been determined: IL-1 ¿ (T/C –889), IL-1¾ (C/T +3962), IL-1R (C/T pstI 1970), IL-1RA ( T/C mspaI 1100), IL-4RA (G/A +1902), IL- 12 (C/A –1188), TGF- ¾ (C/T codon 10, G/C codon 25), TNF-¿ (G/A –308, G/A –238), IL-2 (T/G –330 G/T +166), IL-4 (T/G –1098, T/C –590, T/C –33), IL-6 (G/C –174, G/A nt 560), IL-10 (G/A –1082, C/T –819, C/A –592). Results: From IL-1R cluster (pro- inflammatory cytokines) a positive significant association was found at position pstI 1970 C/T polymorphism where the C allele was over presented in the PTB patients (60% vs. 37.5%, P = 0.04). A significant negative association at codon 10 TGF- ¾ C/T polymorphism has also been shown in our patients, where the T allele was not detected in the patients but 10% of the control subjects expressed this allele (Fisher exact test, P = 0.05). At this codon allele T (Leucine substitution) is associated with high TGF- ¾ production. For TNF ¿ an insignificant tendency was found at position -308 A/G polymorphism where the G allele carried by 80% of cases and 65% of controls (P = 0.07). At position -238 a negative association was found at the GA polymorphism (10% vs. 25%, P = 0.07). For IL-6 an insignificant positive association at position -174 C/G polymorphism, G allele (57.5% vs. 37.5, P = 0.07) was found. At the other cytokine genes no specific association were found. Conclusion: In conclusion it is suggested that C allele at position pstI 1970 of IL-1 cluster increases and T allele at codon 10 of TGF- ¾ decreases in PTB patients.
Ali Rafinejad; Mohammad Hossein Niknam; Ali Akbar Amirzargar; Farideh Khosravi; Forouzan Karimi; Bagher Larijani
Volume 1, Issue 2 , September 2004, , Pages 130-132
Abstract
Background: Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is a chronic and progressive autoimmune disorder. Cytokines play a critical role in the pathogenesis of T1D. Objective: IFN-¹ polymorphism was investigated in T1D and compared with normal controls. Methods: Thirty patients suffering from T1D and 40 ...
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Background: Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is a chronic and progressive autoimmune disorder. Cytokines play a critical role in the pathogenesis of T1D. Objective: IFN-¹ polymorphism was investigated in T1D and compared with normal controls. Methods: Thirty patients suffering from T1D and 40 normal controls were studied simultaneously using PCR technique. IFN- ¹ gene was evaluated at position 5’UTR +5644. Results: There was a significant difference between patient and control groups in TT genotype (P<0.05). Conclusion: In this study, we found a negative association between IFN-¹ gene at position 5’UTR +5644 and T1D in Iranian patients pointing to T allele as a protective factor against T1D.
