Original Article
Mohammad Fereidouni; Farhzad Jabbari Azad; Mahmoud Mahmoudi; Abdolreza Varasteh; Reza Farid Hosseini
Volume 7, Issue 1 , March 2010, Pages 1-7
Abstract
Background: Invariant natural killer cells (iNKT) are an important immunoregulatory T cell subset. Currently several flow cytometry-based approaches exist for the identifi-cation of iNKT cells, which rely on using the 6B11 monoclonal antibody or a combina-tion of anti-Vα24 and anti-Vβ11 antibodies. ...
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Background: Invariant natural killer cells (iNKT) are an important immunoregulatory T cell subset. Currently several flow cytometry-based approaches exist for the identifi-cation of iNKT cells, which rely on using the 6B11 monoclonal antibody or a combina-tion of anti-Vα24 and anti-Vβ11 antibodies. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the ability of two flow cytometry-based methods for detecting the frequency of circulating iNKT cells. Methods: The frequency of iNKT cells was detected in the pe-ripheral blood of 37 healthy adult donors by flow cytometry using the 6B11 antibody or a combination of anti-Vα24 and anti-Vβ11 antibodies. Results: The frequency of iNKT cells detected by 6B11 antibody or by combination of anti-Vα24 and anti-Vβ11 anti-bodies was significantly different (0.54% vs. 0.31%, respectively, p<0.001) but the val-ues were highly correlated (Spearman r = 0.742, p<0.0001). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that different combinations of mAbs detect different frequencies of peripheral blood iNKT cells and a consensus in the field needs to be established to al-low better assessment of iNKT-related studies and suggest using different methods for accurate identification of iNKT cells.
Original Article
Farhad Shahsavar; Nader Tajik; Kobra-Zinat Entezami; Masoomeh Fallah Radjabzadeh; Behnam Asadifar; Kamran Alimoghaddam; Mohammadreza Ostadali Dahaghi; Arash Jalali; Andisheh Ghashghaie; Ardeshir Ghavamzadeh
Volume 7, Issue 1 , March 2010, Pages 8-17
Abstract
Background: Interaction between killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules is important for regulation of natural killer (NK) cell function. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of compound KIR-HLA genotype on susceptibility ...
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Background: Interaction between killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules is important for regulation of natural killer (NK) cell function. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of compound KIR-HLA genotype on susceptibility to acute leukemia. Methods: Cohorts of Iranian patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML; n=40) and acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL; n=38) were genotyped for seventeen KIR genes and their three major HLA class I ligand groups (C1, C2, Bw4) by a combined polymerase chain reaction–sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) assay. The results were compared with those of 200 healthy control individuals. Results: We found a significantly decreased frequency of KIR2DS3 in AML patients compared to control group (12.5% vs. 38%, odds ratio=0.23, p=0.0018). Also, the KIR3DS1 was less common in AML group than controls (27.5% vs. 44.5%, p=0.0465, not significant after correction). Other analyses including KIR genotypes, distribution and balance of inhibitory and activating KIR+HLA combinations, and co-inheritance of activating KIR genes with inhibitory KIR+HLA pairs were not significantly different between leukemia patients and the control group. However, in AML patients a trend toward less activating and more inhibitory KIR-HLA state was observed. Interestingly, this situation was not found in ALL patients and inhibition enhancement through increase of HLA ligands and inhibi-tory combinations was the main feature in this group. Conclusion: Our findings may suggest a mechanism for escape of leukemic cells from NK cell immunity.
Original Article
Ghasem Solgi; Gholamreza Pourmand; Abdorasool Mehrsai; Mohsen Tahei-mahmoudi; Mohammad Hossein Nicknam; Mohammad Ebrahimi Rad; Ali Seraji; Amirabbas Asadpoor; Bita Ansaripor; Behrouz Nikbin; Aliakbar Amirzargar
Volume 7, Issue 1 , March 2010, Pages 18-29
Abstract
Background: Anti-HLA-antibodies are known to affect the allograft survival in transplant recipient patients. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between anti-HLA antibodies and kidney allograft outcomes, particularly in recipients with concur-rent donor bone marrow cell infusion ...
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Background: Anti-HLA-antibodies are known to affect the allograft survival in transplant recipient patients. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between anti-HLA antibodies and kidney allograft outcomes, particularly in recipients with concur-rent donor bone marrow cell infusion (DBMI). Methods: Between June 2006 and May 2007, forty living unrelated donor kidney transplants consisting of 20 recipients with DBMI and 20 without infusion entered into the study and were monitored prospectively for one year. Pre- and post-transplant (days 14, 30, and 90) sera were screened for the presence of anti-HLA class-I and II antibodies, and subsequently positive sera retested with ELISA spe-cific panel for antibody specification. Results: Of 40 patients, 9 (22.5%) experienced acute rejection episodes (ARE) (6/20 cases in non-infused versus 3/20 in DBMI patients). The prevalence of anti-HLA antibodies before and after transplantation were higher in patients with ARE compared to non-rejecting ones (88.8% vs. 38.7%, p=0.01 and 66.6% vs. 25.8%, p=0.04, respectively). A total of 10% (4/40) of patients developed donor specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSA) and in this regard 2 patients from the control group experienced ARE. All 3 rejecting patients in DBMI group were negative for DSA and positive for non-DSA. The lower titer of post-transplant anti-HLA antibodies were shown in DBMI patients compared to pre-transplantation titer. Additionally, the average serum creatinine levels during one year follow up and even in those patients with ARE were lower compared to controls. Con-clusion: Our findings reveal an association between pre- and post-transplant anti-HLA an-tibodies, and ARE and also early allograft dysfunction. It suggests that lower incidence of ARE, undetectable DSA, lower titer of antibodies concomitant with a decrease in serum creatinine level, better allograft function and lower percentages of PRA in DBMI patients, could be the probable manifestations of partial hypo-responsiveness against allografts.
Original Article
Hasan Ebrahimi; Masoud Soleimani; Mohammad Kazemi Arabadadi; Naser Ajmadbeigi; Gholamhossein Hassanshahi; Akbar Farjadfar; Derek Kennedy
Volume 7, Issue 1 , March 2010, Pages 30-38
Abstract
Background: Unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSC) are cord blood stem cells that have been considered as candidates for the regulation of immune responses. Therefore, potential exists for their use in the suppression of immune response after transplantation surgery. Objective: The aim of this study ...
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Background: Unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSC) are cord blood stem cells that have been considered as candidates for the regulation of immune responses. Therefore, potential exists for their use in the suppression of immune response after transplantation surgery. Objective: The aim of this study was evaluation of the effect of USSC on mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) as a model for graft rejection. Methods: USSC and mesanchymal stem cells (MSC) were isolated and cultured from cord blood and bone morrow, respectively. The immunophenotypes of USSC and MSC were evaluated by flow cytometery and USSC and MSC were co-cultured with peripheral blood lympho-cytes (PBL) in an MLR to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of these cells as a percentage of the control response. Results: Current study demonstrated that prolifera-tion of lymphocytes in the MLR was decreased after treatment with USSC, in a similar fashion to that seen with MSC. Conclusion: It can be concluded that USSC have simi-lar regulatory effects as MSC on the MLR, which can be used as an indicator for poten-tial organ rejection after transplantation. Therefore, the immunregulatory effect of these cells could be used in the clinic during organ transplantation and in the management of autoimmunity.
Original Article
Mohsen Moghadami; Afagh Moattari; Hamid Reza Tabatabaee; Alireza Mirahmadizadeh; Abbas Rezaianzadeh; Jafar Hasanzadeh; Mostafa Ebrahimi; Nima Zamiri; Abdolvahab Alborzi; Kamran Bagheri Lankarani
Volume 7, Issue 1 , March 2010, Pages 39-48
Abstract
Background: Pandemic flu had at least two waves in Iran. Knowing how many of the general population were already exposed to this infection has a major impact on na-tional preventive measures. As of December 30, 2009, a total of 3672 confirmed cases of human infection with a novel Influenza A (2009 H1N1) ...
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Background: Pandemic flu had at least two waves in Iran. Knowing how many of the general population were already exposed to this infection has a major impact on na-tional preventive measures. As of December 30, 2009, a total of 3672 confirmed cases of human infection with a novel Influenza A (2009 H1N1) virus had been reported in Iran with 140 deaths. Objective: In this study we aim to measure, as a pilot study, the seroprevalence of positive antibody titer (humoral immunity) against 2009 H1N1 virus in Iranian population in Shiraz, Southern Iran. Methods: Through cluster random sam-pling of families residing in Shiraz, 2553 subjects were selected and after a medical in-terview blood samples were taken and checked for polyclonal antibody against 2009 H1N1 antigen using hemagglutination inhibition assay. An antibody titer of more than 1:40 dilution was considered positive. Data were analyzed considering the demographic characteristics of the population and were compared among different age groups. Results: 1504 (58.91%) samples were tested positive for the presence of polyclonal an-tibody against 2009 H1N1 virus. The prevalence of positive titers were significantly higher in 60 to 64 years old group and significantly lower in 20 to 24 years old group (p<0.05). Data did not differ based on other demographic characteristics or the history of flu like illnesses in the past 6 months. Conclusion: High seroprevalence of antibody against 2009 H1N1 in the sera of our subjects describes either a high level of pre-existing immunity against H1N1 in Iranian population or a high rate of asymptomatic infection in our area compared to other countries.
Original Article
Tahereh Mousavi; Parisa Farnia; Nader Tajik; Mahbubeh Soofi
Volume 7, Issue 1 , March 2010, Pages 49-56
Abstract
Background: Protective immune responses induced in the majority of people infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis enable them to control TB infection. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate CD56 and CD16 positive peripheral blood mononu-clear cells (PBMCs) and leukocyte subsets from multi-drug ...
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Background: Protective immune responses induced in the majority of people infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis enable them to control TB infection. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate CD56 and CD16 positive peripheral blood mononu-clear cells (PBMCs) and leukocyte subsets from multi-drug resistant pulmonary tuber-culosis (MDR-TB), and compare them with nonresistant (NR) TB patients and healthy controls. Methods: 13 MDR-tuberculosis patients, 20 NR-TB individuals and 40 healthy subjects were included. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were double stained with fluorochrome conjugated antibodies against CD56 and CD16 cell surface markers. The phenotype of positive cells was then analyzed by flow cytometry and the percent-ages of CD56+ CD16+, CD56- CD16+, CD56dimCD16+/-, and CD56brightCD16+/- subsets were calculated. Results: There was a significant decline in the percentage of CD56+CD16+ lymphocytes in both MDR and NR-TB patients compared with healthy controls. We also observed lower proportions of CD56dim/brightCD16+ in addition to higher percentages of CD56dim/brightCD16- subsets in all TB patients (p≤0.05). In MDR-TB, our findings demonstrated a distinct phenotypic feature with increased levels of CD56brightCD16- in comparison with both NR-TB and healthy subjects. Conclusion: Considering the function of CD56/CD16 expressing cells in TB, we suggest that pheno-typic characteristics of PBMCs in MDR-TB may correlate with their status of drug re-sistance and probably with their high mortality rates.
Original Article
Ali Shams Shahemabadi; Ahmad Zavaran Hosseini; Shapour Shaghasempour; Mohammad Reza Masjedi; Majid Rayani; Majid Shams; Nasrin Esphandyari; Majid Pouramiri
Volume 7, Issue 1 , March 2010, Pages 57-63
Abstract
Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis lipid antigens take part in pathogenicity of the bacterium but the response of monocytes/macrophages to these antigens in tubercu-losis is not well known. Objective: The aim of current investigation was to study the M. tuberculosis lipid antigens in tuberculosis ...
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Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis lipid antigens take part in pathogenicity of the bacterium but the response of monocytes/macrophages to these antigens in tubercu-losis is not well known. Objective: The aim of current investigation was to study the M. tuberculosis lipid antigens in tuberculosis pathogenesis. Methods: In the present study M. tuberculosis lipid antigens were extracted. Monocytes and macrophages from mul-tidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), TB patients, asymptomatic healthy individuals with positive tuberculin skin test positive and healthy individuals with negative tubercu-lin skin test were collected using magnetic cell sorting. The cells were stimulated by M. tuberculosis total lipid antigens and IL-12 and IL-10 in their supernatants were meas-ured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The IL-12 production by mono-cytes in response to M. tuberculosis total sonicate antigens in the MDR-TB patients did not show a considerable difference with the PPD positive healthy subjects, whereas in the active TB patients, IL-12 levels significantly decreased (p<0.05). IL-10 production by monocytes in TB patients in response to total lipid antigens showed a significant in-crease in comparison to MDR-TB patients and healthy individuals. Conclusion: In the MDR-TB patients, IL-10 and IL-12 production by monocytes in response to M. tubercu-losis lipid antigens are similar to the healthy subjects.
Editorial
Volume 7, Issue 1 , March 2010
