Original Article
Saeid Abediankenari; Davoud Shaker; Farshideh Abedian; Arazmohammad Mirabi
Volume 6, Issue 2 , June 2009, Pages 61-66
Abstract
Background: Dendritic cells (DC) are a key regulator of the immune response, and interferon- beta (IFN-β) is considered an immunomodulatory molecule for DC. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of IFN-β treated DC to induce cytokine secretion by CD4+ T cells. Methods: ...
Read More
Background: Dendritic cells (DC) are a key regulator of the immune response, and interferon- beta (IFN-β) is considered an immunomodulatory molecule for DC. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of IFN-β treated DC to induce cytokine secretion by CD4+ T cells. Methods: Dendritic cells were generated from blood monocytes with granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-4 with or without IFN-β. We analyzed the production of CD4+ T helper cytokines (IL-17, IFN- γ and IL-10) in the supernatant of the dendritic cell-T cell co- cultures by ELISA. We also studied the effects of HLA-G and costimulatory molecules on immature and mature DC. Results: IFN-γ and IL-17 decreased significantly in the presence of HLA-Gbearing DC compared to control cultures (p<0.05). Conclusion: Using the mixed leukocyte reaction, we found that DC treated with IFN-β mediated the inhibition of T cell activation via cytokine production. We conclude that this is important for preventing overactivation of the immune system.
Original Article
Maryam Roudbary; Shahla Roudbar Mohammadi; Mahmood Bozorgmehr; Seyed Mohammad Moazzeni
Volume 6, Issue 2 , June 2009, Pages 67-74
Abstract
Back ground: Candida albicans is a member of the normal human microflora. C. albicans cell wall is composed of several protein and carbohydrate components which have been shown to play a crucial role in C. albicans interaction with the host immune system. Major components of C. albican cell wall are ...
Read More
Back ground: Candida albicans is a member of the normal human microflora. C. albicans cell wall is composed of several protein and carbohydrate components which have been shown to play a crucial role in C. albicans interaction with the host immune system. Major components of C. albican cell wall are carbohydrates such as mannans, β glucans and chitins, and proteins that partially modulate the host immune responses. Dendritic cells (DC), as the most important antigen-presenting cells of the immune system, play a critical role in inducing immune responses against different pathogens. Objective: We investigated the effect of the cell wall protein fraction (CPF) of C. albicans on DC maturation. Methods: The CPF of C. albicans cells was extracted by a lysis buffer containing sodium dodecyl sulphate, 2-mercaptoethanol and phosphate-buffered saline. The extract was dialyzed and its protein pattern was evaluated by electrophoresis. Dendritic cells were purified from Balb/c mice spleens through a three-step method including mononuclear cell separation, as well as 2-h and overnight cultures. The purified CPF was added at different concentrations to DC. The purity and maturation status of DC were determined by flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies against CD11c, MHC-II, CD40 and CD86. Results: Treatment of DC with 10 μg/ml of CPF increased the expression of maturation markers including MHC-II, CD86 and CD40 on DC compared to the control group. Conclusion: In this study we used C. albicans CPF with the molecular weight of 40-45 kDa for pulsing and maturation of dendritic cells. Since according to our results CPF significantly increased the expression of maturation markers on DC, we suggest that CPF may act as an efficient immunomodulator, or may be used as a potential adjuvant to boost the host immune system against infections.
Original Article
Manoochehr Rasouli; Ahmad Zavaran Hoseini; Bahram Karimi; Abdolvahab Alborzi; Simin Kiany
Volume 6, Issue 2 , June 2009, Pages 75-86
Abstract
Background: Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is present in all organisms studied so far, and is a major immunogen in infections caused by pathogens including Leishmania spp. Objective: The aim of this study was to clone and express HSP70 from L. infantum strain MCAN/IR/96/LON-49 and evaluate antibody response ...
Read More
Background: Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is present in all organisms studied so far, and is a major immunogen in infections caused by pathogens including Leishmania spp. Objective: The aim of this study was to clone and express HSP70 from L. infantum strain MCAN/IR/96/LON-49 and evaluate antibody response against HSP70 in visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Methods: The L. infantum HSP70 gene segment was amplified by specific primers. It was cloned into pTZ57R vector and subcloned into pET32a (+) expression vector. The new construct was transformed in the E.coli Rosetta strain, and HSP70 protein was expressed in the presence of 1 mM IPTG and purified using a HiTrap chelating column. Antibody responses against HSP70 were determined by ELISA in 37 patients with visceral leishmaniasis and 63 healthy controls. Results: Expression of HSP70 protein was confirmed using SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and dot blot with an anti-His tag antibody. There was no difference between the sequence of nucleotides of the HSP70 gene in the present study and other reported sequences. The ELISA results indicated that the sera of 81.1% (30/37) of the patients and 6.3% (5/63) of controls reacted to L. infantum HSP70. Conclusion: The conservative nature of the HSP70 molecule is an advantage in vaccine studies, because of minor differences (6%) between the nucleotide sequences and consequently the similarity in amino acid sequences in various strains of L. infantum. It could therefore be used in vaccine research against leishmaniasis and also as a tool for serodiagnosis.
Original Article
Kazem Ahmadi; Majid Riazipour
Volume 6, Issue 2 , June 2009, Pages 87-91
Abstract
Background: The major immuno-modulating effects of Ganoderma lucidum include mitogenicity and activation of immune effector cells such as T cells, macrophages and natural killer cells resulting in the production of cytokines. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of CD40 ...
Read More
Background: The major immuno-modulating effects of Ganoderma lucidum include mitogenicity and activation of immune effector cells such as T cells, macrophages and natural killer cells resulting in the production of cytokines. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of CD40 and CD80 by G. lucidum-treated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Methods: Monocytes were isolated and incubated at 37°C and 5% CO2 for 24 h and 48 h in the presence or absence of different concentrations of G. lucidum. Cells were then incubated with labelled monoclonal antibodies against CD14, CD40 and B7-1(CD80) molecules utilizing standard protocols, and analyzed by flow cytometry. Results: The results showed that incubation of monocytes with G. lucidum led to marked enhancement of CD40 and B7-1 expression in a dose- and time- dependent manner (p<0.001). G. lucidum was more effective in enhancing the expression of CD80 and CD40 molecules of cells obtained from females than male donors (p<0.001). Conclusion: G. lucidum enhanced the expression of CD40 and CD80 molecules on peripheral blood monocytic cells derived from both sexes in a dose-dependent manner, with a preferential higher effect on cells obtained from female donors.
Original Article
Mehdi Dehghani; Zohreh Mostafavi-Pour; Mehrzad Lotfi; Saeed Shakeri
Volume 6, Issue 2 , June 2009, Pages 92-98
Abstract
Background: Prostate specific antigen (PSA) has been used as a screening test for the early detection of prostate cancer (PC) for many years. Although the introduction of PSA test led to a considerable increase in reported prostate cancer cases, there is still some controversy over the sensitivity and ...
Read More
Background: Prostate specific antigen (PSA) has been used as a screening test for the early detection of prostate cancer (PC) for many years. Although the introduction of PSA test led to a considerable increase in reported prostate cancer cases, there is still some controversy over the sensitivity and specificity of this marker in distinguishing PC patients from those with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), the most common benign prostate condition. Objective: An attempt is made to elucidate if the plasma level of Interleukin 8 (IL-8) could be used effectively as a marker for the detection of prostate cancer. Methods: Plasma levels of IL-8 and PSA were measured in two groups of 40 BPH and PC patients using enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) and radioimmunoassay (RIA) techniques, respectively. In addition IL-8 levels in PC3 and DU145 cell line supernatants were measured by ELISA technique. Results: The concentration of IL-8 in the plasma of PC patients was not significantly higher than the BPH subjects. Although, a correlation between plasma IL-8 concentration and the Gleason score of PC patients was found, no indicated correlation was detected between the concentration of IL-8 or PSA and age of the patients in both groups. DU145 and PC3 cell lines produced and secreted IL-8 in the media. Conclusion: Data of this investigation collectively conclude no correlation between IL-8 concentration in PC and BPH patients.
Short Communication
Gholam-Ali Yousefipour; Zahra Salami; Shirin Farjadian
Volume 6, Issue 2 , June 2009, Pages 99-102
Abstract
Background: Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder of neuromuscular junction characterized by skeletal muscle weakness and fatigability. Different genes may control the induction and clinical presentation of this disease. Various HLA alleles are reported as predisposing or protective genetic elements ...
Read More
Background: Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder of neuromuscular junction characterized by skeletal muscle weakness and fatigability. Different genes may control the induction and clinical presentation of this disease. Various HLA alleles are reported as predisposing or protective genetic elements in myasthenia gravis. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the probable association between HLA-DQ alleles and myasthenia gravis in southern Iranian patients. Methods: HLA-DQA1 and DQB1 alleles were determined in 104 sporadic patients with myasthenia gravis using polymerase chain reaction - restriction fragment length polymorphism method and the results were compared to 816 healthy controls. Results: HLA-DQA1*0101/2 (39.4%) and DQB1*0502 (21.6%) were the most frequent alleles in southern Iranian patients with myasthenia gravis. These alleles revealed positive associations with the disease with relative risks of 1.69 and 2.41, respectively. The most common haplotype was DQA1*0101/2-DQB1*0502 in these patients. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, DQA1*0101/2 and DQB1*0502 alleles might be considered as predisposing genetic factors to myasthenia gravis while DQA1*0501, DQB1*0301 and *0602/3 show protective roles against this disease.
Case Report
Mohamed Osama Hegazi; Mohamed Mourou; Omar Ahmed Hassanien
Volume 6, Issue 2 , June 2009, Pages 103-106
