فهرست مطالب

immunology - Volume:13 Issue: 1, Winter 2016

Iranian journal of immunology
Volume:13 Issue: 1, Winter 2016

  • تاریخ انتشار: 1395/02/20
  • تعداد عناوین: 8
|
  • Shahid Waseem*, Kashif, Ur, Rehman, Ramesh Kumar, Tariq Mahmood Page 1
    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 􀟤g/mL or 40 􀟤g/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
    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.
    Keywords: Hemozoin, Macrophage, Malaria, Maturation Markers, mDC, Plasmodium Falciparum
  • Bijan Khademi, Marziyeh Tajvarpour, Zahra Mojtahedi, Mohammad Reza Haghshenas, Nasrollah Erfani* Page 9
    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 level 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±0.57pg/ml, p=0.58 for IFN-γ, 4.57±1.57vs. 4.41±1.31pg/ml, p=0.28 for IL4). 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.
    Keywords: IFN, γ IL, 4, Salivary Gland Tumors, Serum
  • Keyvan Ghasami, Fardin Faraji, Masoud Fazeli, Ali Ghazavi, Ghasem Mosayebi* Page 16
    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.
    Method
    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.
    Keywords: Atorvastatin_Cytokines_Expanded Disability Status Scale Scores (EDSS)_Interferon β 1a_Multiple Sclerosis_Nitric oxide
  • Masooma Abdullahi, Reza Ranjbaran, Soheaila Alyasin, Zeinab Keshavarz, Amin Ramezani, Abbas Behzad, Behbahani, Sedigheh Sharifzadeh* Page 27
    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). Specificity of 60% and sensitivity of 73% were shown using ROC curve for CD203c expression. Patients with positive family history of asthma exhibited more CD203c and ST2L expression (p
    Conclusion
    It is proposed that determining CD203c expression by real time PCR may be an effective technique for diagnosis of pediatric asthma.
    Keywords: Asthma, Basophil, CD203c, ST2L
  • Alireza Farnam, Jafar Majidi, Seyyed Gholamreza Nourazar, Morteza Ghojazadeh, Aliakbar Movassaghpour, Saeedeh Majidi Zolbanin* Page 37
    Background
    There are conflicting findings about relationship between depression and anger with immunological indicators.
    Objectives
    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 previous history of mental illness was also selected. In patients with moderate depression, serum IgA levels and NK cell percentage were measured.
    Results
    Mean difference of all types of "anger expression pattern", including; "statetrait anger", "anger expression out", "anger expression in", "anger control out" and "anger control in", in both study and control groups, was statistically significant (p
    Conclusion
    Moderate depressed patients versus control group had higher Spielberger scores in all types of anger expression pattern except anger control-out and anger control-in. We found no evidence supporting the relationship between" anger expression pattern" with IgA levels and NK cell percentage and it seems that depression itself causes reduced NK cells and increased IgA levels.
    Keywords: Anger, Depression, Immunoglobulin A, Natural Killer Cell
  • Mohammad Hasan Bargostavan, Gilda Eslami, Nasrin Esfandiari, Ali Shams Shahemabadi* Page 45
    Background
    The role of Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) in tumors 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
    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.
    Keywords: Breast Cancer, Matrix Metalloproteinase 9, MHC Class I, Related Chain A
  • Mahsa Rahmani, Hamid Reza Khorasani, Monireh Golpour, Ali Shabestani Monfared, Hosein Nattaj, Saeeid Abedian, Amrollah Mostafazadeh* Page 54
    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.
    Objectives
    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 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 FBS. Under serum starvation condition, PBMCs showed apoptosis 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 alloreactivity while their viability rate is enough for possible clinical application.
    Keywords: Down, Regulation, HLA class I, PBMC, Transplantation
  • Mahmood Soveid*, Peyman Petramfar Page 64
    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.
    Keywords: Multiple Sclerosis, Cushing Disease, Autoimmune Diseases