Sayed Mahdi Marashi; Shima Izadi; Seyed Reza Najafizadeh; Ahmad Nejati; Majid Teymoori-Rad; Shohreh Shahmahmoodi; Forough Golsaz-Shirazi; Fazel Shokri
Abstract
Background: Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disorder. While studying the pathogenesis of SLE is prevalent, both infectious and non-infectious elements are regarded to exert an important impact on the disease's development. Objective: To explore the overall status of EBV, ...
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Background: Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disorder. While studying the pathogenesis of SLE is prevalent, both infectious and non-infectious elements are regarded to exert an important impact on the disease's development. Objective: To explore the overall status of EBV, TLR7, TLR9, and IFN-α gene expression in 32 patients suffering from SLE and 32 healthy controls. Methods: Plasma and PBMCs were separated from fresh whole blood. To measure EBV DNA load and mRNA levels of IFN-a, TLR-7 and9 in PBMCs, molecular techniques were employed. The production of IFN-α, ds-DNA IgG antibody, and EBNA-1 IgG levels were also measured in plasma by ELISA. Results: SLE patients showed significantly higher EBV load (p=0.001) and transcriptional levels of TLR7 (p=0.0001), IFN-α (p=0.0001), and TLR9 (p=0.0001) than controls. Moreover, the plasma levels of IFN-α (p=0.0002) and EBNA-1specific IgG antibodies (p=0.01) were significantly higher in SLE patients. Conclusion: The results stressed on the potential role of EBV infection and TLRs in SLE patients although more research is needed to determine the global impact that EBV infection can have on immune signature in patients with SLE.
Yousef Nikmanesh; Shohreh Shahmahmoodi; Ramin Yaghobi; Sayed Mahdi Marashi; Mahmood Mahmoudi; Mahdokht Hossein Aghdaie; Maryam Khosravi; Mohammad Hossein Karimi
Abstract
Background: Tegument protein pp150 of cytomegaloviruses (CMVs) plays a vital role in all stages of viral life cycle, representing the most important tegument protein candidate for HCMV treatment. However, the exact role of pp150 in immune regulation is yet to be elucidated. Objective: To examine the ...
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Background: Tegument protein pp150 of cytomegaloviruses (CMVs) plays a vital role in all stages of viral life cycle, representing the most important tegument protein candidate for HCMV treatment. However, the exact role of pp150 in immune regulation is yet to be elucidated. Objective: To examine the effects of pp150 on the maturity and function of murine dendritic cells (DCs). Methods: Maturity status (CD40, CD86, and MHC-II expression) and phagocytic capacity of DCs (dextran uptake assay) were characterized. Gene expression profiles of ROR-γ, GATA-3, T-bet, and FOXP-3 as well as the protein expression of INF-γ (Th1), IL-4 (Th2), IL-35 (Treg), IL-17A (Th17), IL-22, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-2 were evaluated in T cells co-cultured with DCs. Results: A significant increase in CD40, CD86, and CCR7 expression and a reduction in the phagocytosis rate were observed in pp150-stimulated DCs compared with unstimulated DCs. T cells co-cultured with stimulated DCs showed higher expressions of ROR-γ, IL-6, IL-2, IL-17A, IL-22, and TNF-α. Conclusion: Despite improvements in maturity status, pp150-stimulated DCs does not seem to be able to induce Th1 or Th2 immunity. In fact, Th17 and its mediators, IL-17A and IL-22, might be the main inflammatory factors involved in pp150-stimulated DC's action mechanism. However, it is necessary to conduct further investigations to corroborate these observations.
