Original Article
Rohollah Dorostkar; Taravat Bamdad; Masoud Parsania; Hassan Pouriayevali
Volume 9, Issue 4 , December 2012, Pages 215-225
Abstract
Background: Improving vaccine potency in the induction of a strong cell-mediated cytotoxicity can enhance the efficacy of vaccines. Necrotic cells and the supernatant of necrotic tumor cells are attractive adjuvants, on account of their ability to recruit antigen-presenting cells to the site of antigen ...
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Background: Improving vaccine potency in the induction of a strong cell-mediated cytotoxicity can enhance the efficacy of vaccines. Necrotic cells and the supernatant of necrotic tumor cells are attractive adjuvants, on account of their ability to recruit antigen-presenting cells to the site of antigen synthesis as well as its ability to stimulate the maturation of dendritic cells. Objective: To evaluate the utility of supernatant of necrotic tumor cells as a DNA vaccine adjuvant in a murine model. Method: The supernatant of EL4 necrotic cells was co-administered with a DNA vaccine expressing the glycoprotein B of Herpes simplex virus-1 as an antigen model under the control of Cytomegalovirus promoter. C57BL/6 mice were vaccinated three times at two weeks intervals with glycoprotein B DNA vaccine and supernatant of necrotic EL4 cells. Five days after the last immunization, cell cytotoxicity, IFN-γ and IL-4 were evaluated. Results: The obtained data showed that the production of IFN-γ from the splenocytes after antigenic stimulation in the presence of the supernatant of necrotic EL4 cells was significantly higher than the other groups (p<0.002). The flow cytometry results showed a significant increase in the apoptosis/necrosis of EL4 cells in the mice immunized with DNA vaccine and supernatant of necrotic EL4 cells comparing to the other groups (p<0.001). Conclusion: The supernatant of necrotic cells contains adjuvant properties that can be considered as a candidate for tumor vaccination.
Original Article
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.
Original Article
Behrouz Gharesi-Fard; Leila Jafarzadeh; Jaleh Zolghadri; Hossein Haghbin
Volume 9, Issue 4 , December 2012, Pages 234-240
Abstract
Background: Normal pregnancy is thought to be dependent on Th2 deviation, while Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL) and Pre-eclampsia (PE) appear to be biased toward the Th1 immune response. It is believed that the soluble form of CD30 (sCD30) is an index of Th2 immune response or modulator of Th1/Th2 responses. ...
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Background: Normal pregnancy is thought to be dependent on Th2 deviation, while Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL) and Pre-eclampsia (PE) appear to be biased toward the Th1 immune response. It is believed that the soluble form of CD30 (sCD30) is an index of Th2 immune response or modulator of Th1/Th2 responses. Objective: The aim of this study was determination of the sCD30 level in RPL and PE patients. Methods: The sCD30 level was measured in sera of a group of normal non-pregnant women (N=43) and compared with normal pregnancy at the first (N=42) and third (N=42) trimester. Furthermore, the level of sCD30 in the normal first and third trimester pregnancies were compared with that of RPL (N=38) and severe pre-eclamptic (N=41) patients, respectively. sCD30 levels were measured by ELISA method and student t-test was used for statistical analysis. Results: The mean level of sCD30 at the first trimester in normal pregnancy was significantly elevated as compared with normal non-pregnant women (21.4 vs. 15.2 ng/ml, p<0.0001). A significant difference between sCD30 concentration at the first and third trimester of normal pregnancies was also observed (21.4 vs. 14.3 ng/ml, p<0.0001). Interestingly, the sCD30 concentration did not show any significant changes at the first trimester of normal pregnancy as compared with RPL (21.4 vs. 20.9 ng/ml) and third trimester of normal pregnancy as compared with PE (14.3 vs. 13.1 ng/ml). Conclusion: The data of this study indicated that the concentration of sCD30 in serum during pregnancy period is not associated with RPL or PE and serum sCD30 is not a good correlate of Th2 immune responses in pregnancy.
Original Article
Mohammad Reza Ataollahi; Elham Aflaki; Mohammad Ali Nazarinia; Saeedeh Shenavandeh; Zahra Habibagahi; Behrouz Gharesi-Fard; Eskandar Kamali-Sarvestani
Volume 9, Issue 4 , December 2012, Pages 241-247
Abstract
Background: The prevalence of anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies (ANCAs) and anti-Cardiolipin Antibodies (anti-CL Ab) in Behcet’s Disease (BD) and also their roles in vascular involvement is controversial. Objective: To assess the prevalence of ANCAs and anti-CL Ab as well as their correlations ...
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Background: The prevalence of anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies (ANCAs) and anti-Cardiolipin Antibodies (anti-CL Ab) in Behcet’s Disease (BD) and also their roles in vascular involvement is controversial. Objective: To assess the prevalence of ANCAs and anti-CL Ab as well as their correlations with clinical manifestations in Iranian patients with BD. Methods: In this case/control study, the sera from 88 patients with BD and 88 healthy controls were evaluated. The levels of ANCAs and anti-CL Ab were measured using indirect ELISA method. Results: The levels of anti-CL, anti-PR3 and anti-MPO (Myeloperoxidase) IgG autoantibodies between BD patients and healthy controls were not statistically different (p=0.21, p=0.28 and p=0.74, respectively). In addition, there were no significant deferences between BD patients with and without vascular involvement in the levels of anti-CL (1.42 ± 1.24 GPLU/ml and 1.58 ± 1.18 GPLU/ml, respectively; p=0.71), anti-PR3 (0.0 ± 0.0 U/ml and 0.08 ± 0.27 U/ml, respectively; p=0.10) and anti MPO (0.48 ± 0.23 U/ml and 0.52 ± 0.22 U/ml, respectively; p=0.41) IgG autoantibodies. Nevertheless, mean titer of anti-CL IgG was higher in male patients with skin rash than those without skin rash (2.2 ± 0.88 GPLU/ml and 1.11 ± 1.22 GPLU/ml, respectively; p=0.017). Conclusion: While anti-CL, anti- PR3 and anti-MPO IgG autoantibodies do not play a major role in susceptibility to BD or pathogenesis of vascular involvement in our patients, anti-CL Ab might be involved in skin lesion development in Iranian male BD patients. However, the results should be confirmed in other studies.
Original Article
Mohammad Reza Sheikh Sajjadieh; Larisa Kuznetsova; vadim Bojenko
Volume 9, Issue 4 , December 2012, Pages 248-253
Abstract
Background: The effect of low dose radiation on immune system is shown. Ionizing radiation can affect cytokine production and polarization of T helper cells. Objective: The current study focused on ionizing radiation in Ukrainian children residing in a contaminated area with clinical irritable bowel ...
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Background: The effect of low dose radiation on immune system is shown. Ionizing radiation can affect cytokine production and polarization of T helper cells. Objective: The current study focused on ionizing radiation in Ukrainian children residing in a contaminated area with clinical irritable bowel syndrome. Method: Our study included 75 rural children population aged 4-18 yrs, who lived in a contaminated area exposed to natural environmental radiation with clinical irritable bowel syndrome (categorized in three groups) and 20 rural children participants aged 5-15 yrs who were living in areas with similar levels of radioactive contamination without clinical irritable bowel syndrome as control group. Internal radiation activity was measured by gamma-ray spectrometry. Serum levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results: A trend towards increased levels of IL-4 was observed in children with clinical irritable bowel syndrome. In these children, IFN-γ levels were lower than that of the control group. Conclusion: The IBS symptoms in Ukrainian children residing in a contaminated area may have stemmed from Th1 to Th2 immune deviation and differential expression of IL-4 and IFN-γ.
Original Article
Hossein Ali Khazaei; Alireza Nakhaei; Golam Ali Dashti; Mehdi Mohammadi; Fariba Hejazenia; Noura Mehrangeez; Amin Khazaei
Volume 9, Issue 4 , December 2012, Pages 254-260
Abstract
Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an allergic disorder of the nasal tissue that underlies diseases such as sinusitis, otits and asthma. Different predisposing factors including immunological and non-immunological factors contribute to the disease pathogenesis. Objective: To investigate association ...
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Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an allergic disorder of the nasal tissue that underlies diseases such as sinusitis, otits and asthma. Different predisposing factors including immunological and non-immunological factors contribute to the disease pathogenesis. Objective: To investigate association of haptoglobin (Hp) phenotypes (Hp1-1, 2-1 and 2-2) with serum immunoglobulins A and E levels in patients suffering from AR in comparison with healthy individuals. Methods: Two hundred and forty patients and 240 healthy individual entered in this case-control study. Serum levels of IgE and IgA were measured and haptoglobulin phenotypes were determined by electrophoresis. The results were evaluated by χ2 statistical test using SPSS software. Results: Serum electrophoresis showed that the distribution of haptoglobin phenotypes of Hp1-1, Hp2-1 and Hp2-2 among 240 patients were 11.3%, 37.9% and 50.8%, respectively. The distribution of different haptoglobin phenotypes in healthy controls were 88.7%, 36.6% and 54.7%, respectively. However, the difference between patients and controls was not statistically significant (p=0.136). The mean of IgE level was significantly higher in patients than controls in association with all three phenotypes (p<0.001). Mean of IgA serum level was also significantly different between case and control groups for Hp1-1 (p<0.048) and Hp2-2 phenotypes (p<0.027). Conclusion: We conclude that there is an association of all three haptoglobin phenotypes with IgE level. Hp1-1 and Hp2-2 phenotypes showed association with IgA in allergic rhinitis, as well. However, we cannot solely attribute these associations to the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis.
Short Paper
Firouz Pouralibaba; Zohreh Babaloo; Farzaneh Pakdel; Tahmoores Abdollahian; Solmaz Pourzare
Volume 9, Issue 4 , December 2012, Pages 261-265
Abstract
Background: Pemphigus vulgaris, a chronic mucocutaneous disease, is the most prevalent type of pemphigus which manifests with development of bullae and erosions on skin and mucosal membranes. Objectives: To investigate the potential role of IL-23 in pemphigus vulgaris. Methods: In this study, 30 patients ...
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Background: Pemphigus vulgaris, a chronic mucocutaneous disease, is the most prevalent type of pemphigus which manifests with development of bullae and erosions on skin and mucosal membranes. Objectives: To investigate the potential role of IL-23 in pemphigus vulgaris. Methods: In this study, 30 patients with pemphigus vulgaris and 30 healthy individuals were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Measurement of IL-23 serum levels in blood samples was conducted by ELISA. Data was analyzed using Student’s t-test for comparison of IL-23 levels between the two groups. Results: Mean serum levels of IL-23 in patients with pemphigus and healthy controls were 25.1 ± 4.2 and 17.9 ± 4.7 pg/ml, respectively (p<0.05). Conclusions: Based on the findings of this study, serum levels of IL-23 were higher in patients with pemphigus in comparison to healthy individuals with no clinical significance.
Letter To The Editor
Hamid Nasri
Volume 9, Issue 4 , December 2012, Pages 266-267
