Luis Antonio Ochoa-Ramirez; Rosalio Ramos-Payan; German Reynaldo Jimenez-Gastelum; Jose Rodriguez-Millan; Maribel Aguilar-Medina; Juan Jose Rios-Tostado; Alfredo Ayala-Ham; Mercedez Bermudez; Juan Fidel Osuna-Ramos; Vicente Olimon-Andalon; Jesús Salvador Velarde-Félix
Abstract
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emergent viral disease in which the host inflammatory response modulates the clinical outcome. Severe outcomes are associated with an exacerbation of inflammation in which chemokines play an important role as the attractants of immune cells to the ...
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Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emergent viral disease in which the host inflammatory response modulates the clinical outcome. Severe outcomes are associated with an exacerbation of inflammation in which chemokines play an important role as the attractants of immune cells to the tissues.Objective: To evaluate the relationship of the chemokines IL-8, RANTES, MIG, MCP-1, and IP-10 with COVID-19 severity and outcomes in Mexican patients.Methods: We analyzed the serum levels of IL-8, RANTES, MIG, MCP-1 and IP-10 in 148 COVID-19 hospitalized patients classified as mild (n=20), severe (n=61), and critical (n=67), as well as in healthy individuals (n=10), by flow cytometry bead array assay.Results: Chemokine levels were higher in patients than in the healthy individuals, but only MIG, MCP-1, and IP-10 increased according to the disease severity, showing the highest levels in the critical group. MIG, MCP-1, and IP-10 levels were also higher in COVID-19 patients with comorbidities such as renal disease, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. Moreover, elevated MIG levels seem to be related to organic failure/shock, and an increased risk of death.Conclusions: Our results suggest that the increased levels of MCP-1, IP-10, and especially MIG might be useful in predicting severe COVID-19 outcomes and could be promising therapeutic targets.
Sara Iranparast; Farhad Seif; Sanaz Tayebi; Farhad Abolnezhadian; Moosa Sharifat; Alireza Fazaeli; Neda Roshanravan; Azam Samei; Sholeh Khajoei
Abstract
Follicular helper T (TFH) cells are a subset of effector CD4+ T cells that support the differentiation of antigen-specific B cells in the germinal center. TFH cells are distinct from other established CD4+ T cell subsets and possess a list of transcription factors, including BCL6, IRF4, c-Maf, Batf, ...
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Follicular helper T (TFH) cells are a subset of effector CD4+ T cells that support the differentiation of antigen-specific B cells in the germinal center. TFH cells are distinct from other established CD4+ T cell subsets and possess a list of transcription factors, including BCL6, IRF4, c-Maf, Batf, NFAT1-2, and STAT3. The mentioned factors direct several activities such as cell differentiation, migration to the follicles, cell-to-cell interaction, as well as cell programming. Given that TFH cells are essential for the germinal center formation, affinity maturation and the development of most high-affinity antibodies. TFH cells may play crucial roles in different pathologic conditions, particularly autoimmune diseases. However, the mechanisms that cause functional differences of TFH cell responses are not exactly defined. In this review first the immunological profile of TFH cells will be discussed then attempts will be made to give a broad picture on the role of this key subset of T cells in autoimmune diseases.
Nahid Zainodini; Gholamhossein Hassanshahi; Mohammad Kazemi Arababadi; Hossein Khorramdelazad; Afshin Mirzaei
Volume 10, Issue 1 , March 2013, , Pages 40-46
Abstract
Background: Alopecia Areata (AA) is a non-scarring, autoimmune disorder which causes hair loss. Inflammatory reactions are involved in hair loss of the scalp and/or body. The involvement of chemokine receptors in the pathogenesis of AA is well defined among which, CXCL1 acts on neutrophils and CXCL9, ...
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Background: Alopecia Areata (AA) is a non-scarring, autoimmune disorder which causes hair loss. Inflammatory reactions are involved in hair loss of the scalp and/or body. The involvement of chemokine receptors in the pathogenesis of AA is well defined among which, CXCL1 acts on neutrophils and CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL12 and serve as T lymphocytes recruiters. Objective: To study the serum levels of ELR+ and ELR- CXCL1, CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL12 in the patients suffering from AA and healthy controls. Methods: The study population of consisted of 30 patients suffering from AA and 30 healthy controls. Serum concentrations of CXCL1, CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL12 were measured using enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Current results showed that AA patients had significantly elevated serum levels of CXCL9 and CXCL10 in comparison to controls (p<0.001). These results also demonstrated that serum levels of CXCL1 and CXCL12 were significantly decreased in AA patients compared to control (p<0.001). Conclusion: CXCL9 and CXCL10 are elevated in the AA patients and may be involved in the recruitment of T lymphocytes to the inflamed tissues. Moreover, due to the significant role played by these chemokines in angiogenesis/angiostatis phenomenon they could be considered as useful biomarkers in AA diagnosis and therapy.
Nasrollah Erfani; Faezeh Moghaddasi-Sani; Mahboubeh Razmkhah; Mohammad Reza Haghshenas; Abdolrasoul Talaei; Abbas Ghaderi
Volume 9, Issue 4 , December 2012, , Pages 226-233
Abstract
Background: CCL22/MDC is a CC chemokine with a critical role in regulation of the immune balance in physiological condition. CCL22/CCR-4 ligation has been documented to participate in the migration of regulatory T (Treg) cells and Th2 lymphocytes to the site of breast tumors; circumstances that are known ...
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Background: CCL22/MDC is a CC chemokine with a critical role in regulation of the immune balance in physiological condition. CCL22/CCR-4 ligation has been documented to participate in the migration of regulatory T (Treg) cells and Th2 lymphocytes to the site of breast tumors; circumstances that are known to be associated with poor prognosis. Objective: To investigate the association of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in CCL22 gene; 16C/A (rs4359426; Asp2Ala), with susceptibility to breast cancer in a sample of Iranian population. Methods: 161 patients with pathologically confirmed breast carcinoma (mean age 49.3 ± 11.5 yrs) and 178 agematched healthy women (mean age: 49.3 ± 12.9 yrs) were studied. CCL22 genotypes were investigated by the Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Data was verified by direct automated sequencing. Arlequin analysis showed no deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Results: The most frequent genotype in both patient and control groups was wild type CC genotype with frequency of 146 out of 161 (90.7%) among patients and 153 out of 178 (86.0%) in control group (p=0.24). The frequency of CA genotype was 15 (9.3%) and 23 (12.9%) in patients and controls, respectively (p=0.38). No AA genotype was observed among patients but this genotype was observed with the frequency of 2 out of 178 (1.1%) in control subjects. The minor allele frequency (MAF) was 0.07 in the population. Conclusion: No correlation was found between the investigated genotypes and clinicopathological characteristics of the patients. Conclusively, results of this investigation do not support the association of 16C/A SNP (rs4359426; Asp2Ala) in CCL22 gene with susceptibility to, and progression of, breast cancer in Iranian population.
Alireza Andalib; Hassan Doulabi; Mohammadreza Najafi; Mehdi Tazhibi
Volume 8, Issue 1 , March 2011, , Pages 1-10
Abstract
Background: Th1 cells preferentially express CXCR3, CCR5 and CCR6, while CCR3 and CCR4 are predominantly expressed by Th2 cell subsets. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a Th1 cell-dependant chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, and immunomudolatory cytokines could alter the chemokine ...
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Background: Th1 cells preferentially express CXCR3, CCR5 and CCR6, while CCR3 and CCR4 are predominantly expressed by Th2 cell subsets. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a Th1 cell-dependant chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, and immunomudolatory cytokines could alter the chemokine expression pattern of these lymphocyte subsets. Objective: This study was performed to measure chemokine receptor expression on CD4 T cells for evaluation of Th1/Th2 dominantly in IFN-β treated patients. Methods: flowcytometry was used to detect chemokine receptor expression on CD4 T cell population in PBMCs obtained from MS and healthy control groups. Twenty six MS patients participated in this study before and after IFN-β therapy and the same number of healthy individuals were included. Results: The percentage of lymphocytes was 41.28% ± 10.30 in the blood of MS group compared with 36.88% ± 5.51% in the control group (p=0.017). The CD4+CXCR3+ cells were 18.86% ± 8.46% in healthy group, 30.78% ± 9.8% in pre-treated MS patients and 21.06% ± 9.23% in posttreated group (p<0.001). The CD4+CCR4+ cell subsets were 27.35% ± 10.15% in healthy group; 28.17% ± 8.9% in pre-treated group and 34.20% ± 8.96% in the post- IFN-β treatment group. The subset of CD4+CCR4+ was found to be dominant after IFN- β therapy in comparison with the control group (p<0.001). CD4+CCR5+ percentage was 1.24% ± 0.92% in the healthy people, 1.23% ± 0.71% in the MS patients and 0.76% ± 0.49% in post-treatment status (p=0.003). CD4+CCR3+ cell subsets were 0.62% ± 0.67% in control group, 0.28% ± 0.26% in the MS patients (p=0.022) and 0.39% ± 0.54% in IFN-β treated patients (p=0.334). An association was found for CXCR3 expression in pre- and post- treatment status (r=0.840, p<0.001) as well as for CCR4+ expression (r=0.712, p<0.001) in the same groups. The Th1 response was dominant in pre-treatment states, and then it shifted to a Th2 dominant state after IFN-β treatment. Conclusion: We suggest that the chemokine receptor expression of Th1/Th2 cell subsets could be used for monitoring and the evaluation of the MS disease status.
Gholamhossein Hassanshahi; Mohammad Kazemi Arababadi; Alan James Dickson
Volume 3, Issue 2 , June 2006, , Pages 54-60
Abstract
Background: It is now well established that several environmental stress factors cause activation of p38 MAP kinase and JNK in various cell types to produce chemokines. Objective: To investigate the expression of CXC chemokines Gro/KC and SDF- 1a in rat's H4 hepatoma cells in response to heat shock, ...
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Background: It is now well established that several environmental stress factors cause activation of p38 MAP kinase and JNK in various cell types to produce chemokines. Objective: To investigate the expression of CXC chemokines Gro/KC and SDF- 1a in rat's H4 hepatoma cells in response to heat shock, hyperosmolarity and oxidative stress. Methods: Hepatoma cells were maintained in MEM medium. Cells were subjected to different stresses [(H2O2 0.15% (w/v), manitol and NaCl (160 mM) and heat shock (42 °C for 20 minutes)]. Cells were harvested and RNA was extracted, purified and the CXC chemokine Gro/KC and SDF-1a expression was analysed by RT-PCR. cDNA was separated by gel electrophoresis on a 1% (w/v) agarose gel and visualized under a UV transilluminator. Results: There was detectable but low expression of both SDF-1a and Gro/KC in H4 hepatoma cells. Heat shock failed to induce expression of SDF-1a and Gro/KC in H4 hepatoma cells of rat. Hyperosmolarity also did not stimulate SDF-1a and Gro/KC expression. In this study we have also shown that oxidative stress did not induce expression of SDF-1a and Gro/KC. Overall, although detection is possible but regulatory responses were not observed in H4 hepatoma cells. Conclusion: Several known injurious conditions cause recruitment of macrophages, neutrophils and other immune cells to the liver. Immune cells are recruited to the hepatic vasculature following local liver injury and subsequent chemokine production. Our results demonstrated that failure to produce chemokines by hepatoma cells may be a way to escape from mechanism of immune surveillance.