Original Article
Shahid Waseem; Kashif-Ur-Rehman -; Ramesh Kumar; Tariq Mahmood
Volume 13, Issue 1 , March 2016, Pages 1-8
Abstract
Background: Falciparum malaria is a severe health burden worldwide. Antigen presenting cells are reported to be affected by erythrocytic stage of the parasite. Malarial hemozoin (HZ), a metabolite of malaria parasite, has adjuvant properties and may play a role in the induction of immune response against ...
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Background: Falciparum malaria is a severe health burden worldwide. Antigen presenting cells are reported to be affected by erythrocytic stage of the parasite. Malarial hemozoin (HZ), a metabolite of malaria parasite, has adjuvant properties and may play a role in the induction of immune response against the parasite. Objective: To determine the immunological impact of hemozoin on the capacity of innate immune cells maturation. Methods: Plasmodium falciparum (F32 strain) was cultured in O+ blood group up to 18% parasitemia. Natural hemozoin was extracted from infected red blood cells. Murine bone marrow derived macrophages and myeloid dendritic cells were stimulated with 4 ߤg/mL or 40 ߤg/mL of synthetic hemozoin (β-hematin) or natural hemozoin. We assessed the immunomodulatory role of synthetic or natural hemozoin in vitro by flowcytometric analysis. Results: The maturation markers MHCII, CD80 and CD86 were significantly upregulated (p<0.05) on the surface of murine bone marrow derived macrophages or myeloid dendritic cells. Data confirmed the potential of macrophages or myeloid dendritic cells, through hemozoin activation, to establish an innate immune response against malaria parasites. Conclusion: Both synthetic and natural hemozoin are potent inducers of cellular immunity against malaria infection. However, natural hemozoin is a stronger inducer as compared to synthetic hemozoin.
Original Article
Bijan Khademi; Marziyeh Tajvarpour; Zahra Mojtahedi; Mohammad Reza Haghshenas; Nasrollah Erfani
Volume 13, Issue 1 , March 2016, Pages 9-15
Abstract
Background: Salivary gland tumors are among malignancies that have high recurrence rate. Immune responses in salivary gland tumors have not been well elucidated. T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th2 cytokines have been reported to play a role in the outcome of head and neck cancers. Objective: To evaluate the ...
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Background: Salivary gland tumors are among malignancies that have high recurrence rate. Immune responses in salivary gland tumors have not been well elucidated. T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th2 cytokines have been reported to play a role in the outcome of head and neck cancers. Objective: To evaluate the serum levels of interferon gamma (IFN- γ), as the hallmark of Th1 cytokines, and interleukin-4 (IL-4), as the hallmark of Th2 cytokines, in patients with benign and malignant salivary gland tumors in comparison with healthy controls. Methods: Fifty patients with benign and 14 patients with malignant salivary gland tumors, as well as 23 healthy individuals were recruited. Serum levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 were measured using ELISA method. Nonparametric tests were used for data analysis. Results: Serum levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 were found not to be significantly different in patients compared to the control group (0.68 ± 0.29 vs. 1.03 ± 0.57 pg/ml, p=0.58 for IFN-γ, 4.57 ± 1.57 vs. 4.41 ± 1.31 pg/ml, p=0.28 for IL-4). IFN-γ and IL-4 serum levels were also not significantly different between patients with benign and malignant salivary gland tumors (p=0.54 and p=0.86, respectively). Conclusion: The systemic levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ seem not to be associated with salivary gland tumor in our study. Investigation of other cytokines produced by Th1 and Th2 cells are warranted.
Original Article
Keyvan Ghasami; Fardin Faraji; Masoud Fazeli; Ali Ghazavi; Ghasem Mosayebi
Volume 13, Issue 1 , March 2016, Pages 16-26
Abstract
Background: Statins, widely used cholesterol-lowering agents, have also been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory and immunomdulatory effects. Objective: To evaluate the effects of atorvastatin in combination with Interferon-β in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) in a randomized controlled ...
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Background: Statins, widely used cholesterol-lowering agents, have also been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory and immunomdulatory effects. Objective: To evaluate the effects of atorvastatin in combination with Interferon-β in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) in a randomized controlled clinical trial. Methods: Multiple sclerosis patients were randomized independently, in a double blind design, into one of two treatment groups. Control group (n=45) received 30 μg/week interferon β-1a via intra-muscular injection. Atorvastatin-treated group (n=50) received interferon β-1a similar to control group in addition to atorvastatin (40 mg/day) for 18-months. All clinical and immunological variables were measured at the baseline and at the end of the study. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in the expanded disability status scale scores and the number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions during the 18-month treatment period. After 18 months, the levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, transforming growth factor-β and serum ferric reducing antioxidant power in the atorvastatin treatment group were significantly higher than the control group. Levels of IL-17, TNF-α and lymphocyte proliferation in the atorvastatin treatment group were significantly lower than the control group. Conclusion: Although combined atorvastatin and interferon-β do not change the clinical course of MS, atorvastatin might have beneficial effects in MS treatment possibly through inducing anti-inflammatory responses.
Original Article
Masooma Abdullahi; Reza Ranjbaran; Soheaila Alyasin; Zeinab Keshavarz; Amin Ramezani; Abbas Behzad-Behbahani; Sedigheh Sharifzadeh
Volume 13, Issue 1 , March 2016, Pages 27-36
Abstract
Background: Asthma is very common in children and its diagnosis is based on clinical manifestations, which can be misdiagnosed as other respiratory diseases with similar signs and symptoms. Objective: To analyze the expression of ST2L and CD203c in the diagnosis of pediatric asthma. Methods: Basophils ...
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Background: Asthma is very common in children and its diagnosis is based on clinical manifestations, which can be misdiagnosed as other respiratory diseases with similar signs and symptoms. Objective: To analyze the expression of ST2L and CD203c in the diagnosis of pediatric asthma. Methods: Basophils were purified from whole blood samples of patients and healthy controls using Ficol-Paque gradient and Basophil Isolation Kit. RNA extraction was done by RNX-Plus solution and after synthesis of cDNA, the gene expression was analyzed by means of real time PCR. Results: Patients expressed significantly higher levels of CD203c than healthy controls (p=0.01). Although there was an increase in the transcription level of ST2L gene in patients, the results were not statistically significant compared to those obtained from the healthy controls (p>0.05). A Specificity of 60% and a sensitivity of 73% were foundusing ROC curve for CD203c expression. Patients with positive family history of asthma exhibited more CD203c and ST2L expression (p<0.05). Conclusion: It is proposed that determining CD203c expression by real time PCR may be an effective technique for diagnosis of pediatric asthma.
Original Article
Alireza Farnam; Jafar Majidi; Seyyed Gholamreza Nourazar; Morteza Ghojazadeh; Aliakbar Movassaghpour; Saeedeh Majidi Zolbanin
Volume 13, Issue 1 , March 2016, Pages 37-44
Abstract
Background: There are conflicting findings about relationship between depression and anger with immunological parameters. Objective: To investigate the relationship between anger patterns and immune system in depressed patients. Methods: Thirty-five patients with major depressive disorder were selected ...
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Background: There are conflicting findings about relationship between depression and anger with immunological parameters. Objective: To investigate the relationship between anger patterns and immune system in depressed patients. Methods: Thirty-five patients with major depressive disorder were selected according to DSM-IV criteria. The Hamilton Depression Scale and Spielberger Anger questionnaires were used to determine severity of depression and "anger expression pattern", respectively. The control group without a previous history of mental illness was also selected. In the group of patients with moderate depression, serum IgA levels and NK cell percentage were measured. Results: Mean differences of all types of "anger expression pattern", including; "state-trait anger", "anger expression out", "anger expression in", "anger control out" and "anger control in", between study and control groups, were statistically significant (p<0.05). Difference in mean serum levels of IgA in either group was not significant (p=0.9), but the mean difference was significant in terms of NK-cell percentage in both groups (p=0.04). There was no significant relationship between IgA levels and percentage of NK-cell with all types of "anger expression pattern" in both groups. Only in the control group, IgA had significant correlation with Anger control out (p=0.04). Conclusion: Moderately depressed patients versus control group had higher Spielberger scores in all types of anger expression pattern except anger controlout and anger control-in. We found no evidence supporting the relationship between" anger expression pattern" and IgA levels and NK cell percentage; however, it seems that depression itself causes reduced number of NK cells and increased IgA levels.
Original Article
Mohammad Hasan Bargostavan; Gilda Eslami; Nasrin Esfandiari; Ali Shams Shahemabadi
Volume 13, Issue 1 , March 2016, Pages 45-53
Abstract
Background: The role of Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) in tumor invasion and progression is prominent. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the promoter region of MMP9 (-1562 C/T) increases the transcription and expression of this gene. On the other hand, MHC class I chain-related protein A and ...
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Background: The role of Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) in tumor invasion and progression is prominent. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the promoter region of MMP9 (-1562 C/T) increases the transcription and expression of this gene. On the other hand, MHC class I chain-related protein A and B (MICA/B) in soluble forms may impair tumor immunogenicity by reducing Natural Killer Group 2D (NKG2D) densities on NK cells and MMP9 enzyme activity has a prominent role in shedding of MICA/B. Objectives: To investigate the association between MMP9 (-1562 C/T) polymorphism and serum MICA/B level in breast cancer patients. Methods: In this case-control study, 105 patients with breast cancer and 100 healthy age-matched women were selected from Yazd hospitals, Iran. The polymorphism of MMP9 (-1562 C/T) was determined by PCR-RFLP. Concentration of MICB and MICA in the sera of breast cancer patients and healthy women were measured using ELISA method. Results: The frequency of CC, CT and TT genotypes and T allele of the MMP9 (-1562 C/T) did not show significant differences between breast cancer patients and healthy donors (p>0.05). On the other hand, the mean serum levels of MICB and MICA were significantly elevated in patients compared with healthy individuals (p<0.05). In patients with MMP9CC genotype, the mean serum MICB concentration was significantly higher than those patients with CT polymorphism (p<0.05). Although the mean of blood MICA concentration in patients with the CT genotype was higher than those patients with CC genotype, the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The T allele of the MMP9 (-1562 C/T) does not show a correlation with serum levels of MICA and MICB in breast cancer patients.
Short Paper
Mahsa Rahmani; Hamid Reza Khorasani; Monireh Golpour; Ali Shabestani Monfared; Hosein Nattaj; Saeeid Abedian; Amrollah Mostafazadeh
Volume 13, Issue 1 , March 2016, Pages 54-63
Abstract
Background: The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching between organ donor and recipient is an acceptable strategy in clinical transplantation since 1964. However, in bone marrow transplantation, finding matched donors is often problematic. Thus new method for down regulation of HLA can be an alternative ...
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Background: The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching between organ donor and recipient is an acceptable strategy in clinical transplantation since 1964. However, in bone marrow transplantation, finding matched donors is often problematic. Thus new method for down regulation of HLA can be an alternative strategy to solve this problem. Objective: To examine the effect of serum starvation on HLA class I expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Methods: PBMCs were cultured in RPMI-1640 supplemented with 10% FBS (non-starved cells) as well as in medium only (starved cells) for 16, 24, 48, 72, 96h under standard cell culture conditions. The pattern of cell death and HLA class I expression was determined by flowcytometry. Antigenicity of the starved PBMCs was evaluated in a one-way mixed lymphocyte culture by MTT assay. Results: Mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of different indicated starved PBMCs gradually decreased and this reduction was stable after 96h of re-feeding with medium containing FBS. Under serum starvation condition, PBMCs showed apoptotic cell death pattern. There was a linear correlation between percentages of cells, which exhibited the late apoptosis death pattern and serum starvation period (r=0.88, p<0.01). Surprisingly, the starved PBMCs lost their stimulatory property in mixed culture with allo-reactive lymphocyte. Conclusions: Membrane HLA class I expression could be stably reduced in 96h starved human PBMCs culture condition, decreasing their allo-reactivity while their viability rate is enough for possible clinical application.
Mahmood Soveid; Peyman Petramfar
Volume 13, Issue 1 , March 2016, Pages 64-68
Abstract
High cortisol level in endogenous Cushing’s syndrome suppresses the immune system and after treatment there may be an over activity of immune reaction leading to autoimmune diseases mostly thyroid and rheumatologic disorders. This is the second reported case of multiple sclerosis developing after ...
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High cortisol level in endogenous Cushing’s syndrome suppresses the immune system and after treatment there may be an over activity of immune reaction leading to autoimmune diseases mostly thyroid and rheumatologic disorders. This is the second reported case of multiple sclerosis developing after treatment of Cushing’s syndrome. A 42-year old man is reported who presented with bone fracture and osteoporosis and diagnosed with Cushing’s disease. Six months after surgical treatment of his pituitary adenoma, he developed progressive multiple sclerosis. We conclude that after treatment of endogenous Cushing’s syndrome, the patients should be watched for development of autoimmune disorders including those affecting the central nervous system.
Editorial
Volume 13, Issue 1 , March 2016
