Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
Volume:7 Issue: 1, Mar 2008

Abstract: Asthma is a disorder of increasing severity and prevalence. Recent knowledge about the pathogenesis of asthma emphasizes its inflammatory nature. CpG oligonucleotides are a class of compounds containing motifs based on the cytosine-guanine dinucleotides (CpG-ODNs). These motifs are suppressed in mammalian DNA. They induce inflammation in mammals characterized by the induction of T helper type 1 and regulatory responses. In this paper, the effect of CpG DNA co-administration with a homemade Chenopodium album (Ch.a) extract in a murine model of asthma is reported for the first time. Balb/C mice were sensitized using Ch.a. pollen allergenic extract plus CpG-ODNs intraperitoneally and were challenged with aerosolized allergen. Results measured included IL-10 and IFN-gamma cytokines as well as IgG subclasses. For this, splenocytes from mice treated with CpG/Ag or Ag alone, were cultured in the presence of antigen. The results showed that CpG ODN administered at the time of Ch.a sensitization, effectively increased cytokines and IgG2a/IgG1 ratios compared with those in mice treated with antigen or with PBS alone(P≤ 0.001). Our experiments revealed that Ch.a. sensitization decreased IgG2a/IgG1 compared with non-sensitized mice (P≤ 0.001), while CpG ODN/Ch.a reversed this ratio, indicating CpG potentials towards IgG2a subclass switching.We conclude that Co- administration of Ch.a. allergen and CpG ODN prevents the development of TH2-mediated response probably through the IL-10 regulatory effects. Thus, these components could be used with the other allergens in order to induce the prevention of inflammatory conditions. We suggest further studies are necessary to identify the potential effects of CpG-ODNs administration in conjunction with other antigens prepared from the regional allergens in Iran. Taken together, we suppose that the results obtained in this study in animal models may be useful in human trials conducted by other investigators

Abstract: Studies on HLA-G, a nonpolymorphic antigen of non-classical HLA class I, is of basic and clinical significance. In the present study, the expression of HLA-G proteins in the human skin tissue sections of normal and autoimmune pemphigus vulgaris (PV) individuals were investigated using monoclonal antibodies. The antibodies recognized both membrane-bound and soluble isoforms of HLA-G. RT-PCR was performed to assess the patterns of HLA-G mRNA transcripts in the epidermal cells of PV and normal subjects. HLA-G expression could only be detected at transcriptional level in normal skin tissues. However cells derived from PV subjects expressed detectable HLA-G molecules at both transcriptional and translational levels. In addition, the RT-PCR patterns of HLA-G amplification revealed a reduction in HLA-G2 and an increase in HLA-G1 transcripts in epidermal cells of PV patients as compared to normal cells. These observations further support suggestions in the literature regarding the role of HLA-G in induction of tolerance in autoimmune individuals.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to test the therapeutic efficacy of sodium alginate in a rat model of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced inflammatory bowel disease. This experiment was carried out using 77 Sprague-Dawley rats which were divided into six groups; normal, control, prophylactic, therapeutic and two experimental groups. Rats were sacrificed 1, 2, 3 and 6 weeks after colitis induction. Severity of colitis was graded macroscopically and assessed using serum and colonic mucosal cytokines and eicosanoids. Intrarectal TNBS (30 mg) produced a significant chronic ulcerative colitis. The lesions were most severe on day seven after TNBS instillation, and then declined, but lesions were still observed after six weeks. TNBS administration also significantly enhanced the serum and colonic mucosal cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-6) and eicosanoids (LTB4 and PGE2) levels, which paralleled with the severity of colitis. Low viscosity sodium alginate (LVA) solution as therapeutic agent was administered orally as drinking water at concentration of 0.5% (W/V) for six weeks. Results showed that pre-treatment (in prophylactic group) and treatment with LVA were significantly able to reduce colonic damage score, serum level and colonic mucosal production of TNF-alpha, IL-6, LTB4 and PGE2 in pre-treated and treated animals compared with non-treated controls. LVA therapy is able to suppress chronic ulcerative colitis in experimental model.

Abstract: The human leukocyte antigen-B27 is one of the class I molecules of the major histocompatibility complex which is strongly associated with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The strength of the disease association with B27 varies markedly among racial and ethnic populations. It is an allele family, which constitutes about 31 subtypes, with a considerable geographic and ethnic difference in distribution. It is important to know whether certain subtypes show any preferential association with AS. Because there is no report regarding HLA-B27 subtypes in Iranian patients with AS, the factthe main there are rarelystudies (if any); purpose of the present study was to assess the frequency of subtypes of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 in patients with ankylosing spondylitis in Iranian populationOne hundred and nineteen AS patients (82 HLA-B27 positive and 37 HLA-B27 negative) were selected for this study. HLA-B27 positive patients were selected screened for B*27 subtyping were performed by polymerase chain reaction amplification with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) for B*27 subtyping.. The results of present study revealed that onlythat only two subtypes were detected in Iranian patients, including: B*2705 (52 patients, 63.4%) and B*2702 (30 patients, 36.6%). Our results showed a restricted number of HLA-B27 subtypes associated with AS in Iran and an elevated frequency of the B*2705 allele in these patients similar to other Euro-Caucasoid (Aryan) groups in the world.

Abstract: The impulse oscillation system (IOS) measures respiratory impedance (Zrs) in terms of resistance (Rrs) and reactance (Xrs) at multiples of 5 Hz. These measurements can be used clinically to help diagnose and monitor respiratory disorders, independent of effort. There is, as yet, no information on reference values for IOS in Iranian adolescents.The predictive equation for resistance and impedance at 5 and 15 and 25 Hz, for the first time, in 509 Iranian adolescent subjects (265 boys (aged 6-19 years) and 253 girls (aged 5-19 years) were determined. Gender-specific linear prediction equations were developed by multiple regression analysis; with measuring (R5, R15, R25, X5, X15, X 25) as dependent variables regressed against age (A) and height (H).For both genders, age and height had negative effects on resistance, while age and height had a positive effect on reactance. The prediction equations for R5 and X5 are as follows:R5: -1.35×10-5 × age×2.823 - 0.001 × height ×1.022 + 0.547 for girlsX5: 1.78×10-7× age ×1.08 + 0.002 height ×4.150 - 0.539, for girls R5: -6.19×10-7× age × 3.820 - 6.78E-005 ×height ×1.651 + 0.691 for boysX5: 6.95×10-23 × age ×16.226 + 0.004height × 0.846- 0.430, for boys, respectively.Our results therefore provide an original frame of reference for R5, R15, R25, X5, X15, X25 in Iranian adolescents population, obtained from a standardized forced oscillation technique.

Abstract: Type 1 diabetes mellitus is frequently associated with autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD).Genetic susceptibility for autoantibody formation in association with ATD and type 1 diabetes mellitus has been described with varying frequencies, but there is still debate about its prevailing situation in Iran. We have therefore investigated the prevalence of anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) and anti thyroglubolin (Anti TG) antibodies in type 1 diabetic patients, and compared the effect of age and sex on the thyroid autoimmunity in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus in Iran.Ninety one subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus and one hundred and sixty three unrelated normal controls under the age of thirty years were recruited for the detection of anti-TPO and anti-TG. Radio Immuno Assay and chemiluminescence methods were used for anti-TPO and anti-TG detection respectively.Among 91 type 1 diabetic patients, 36 (39.6%) were positive for anti-TPO and 27(30%) were positive for antiTG. Anti-TPO antibodies were detected only in 6.7% of control group. Comparing with those without thyroid autoimmunity, there was a female preponderance for the type 1 diabetic patients with thyroid autoimmunity (female: male, 28:14 vs. 28:20 respectively). Among the type 1 diabetic patients those with thyroid autoimmunity, tended to be older (p: 0.04) and to have higher TSH concentration (p: 0.03). Patients with high anti-TPO levels had longer duration of diabetes (P: 0.02).The presence of anti-TPO in 39.6% of our type 1 diabetic patients comparing with 8.5% of normal subjects confirmed the strong association of ATD and type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Abstract: Different research groups have extensively studied the associations of cytokine gene polymorphisms in different diseases. The role of cytokines gene polymorphisms in multiple sclerosis (MS), as a chronic Immune-mediated neurodegenerative disease, has been previously reported in the various populations. For determining pro-inflammatory cytokine gene polymorphisms, 100 relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) Iranian patients and 140 normal individuals as control enrolled in this study. DNA of each sample was extracted by a modified salting out method. Cytokine single gene nucleotide polymorphisms including IL-1α -889, IL-1β (-511 and +3962), IL-1R pst1 1970, IL-1RA mspal 11100, and TNF-α (-308 and -238) were determined by using the PCR-SSP method. The results of our data indicate the decrease in frequency of IL-1α TC-889 genotype (p=0.002), IL-1β TC +3962 genotype (p=0.004), IL-1R T pst1 1970 allele (p= 0.0001), IL-1 RA TC Mspa1 11100 genotype (p=0.009), TNF-α A-308 allele (p=0.0002) and AG genotype (p=0.00001) in the patients group versus normal subjects. On the other hand the frequency of IL-1α TT -889 genotype (p=0.028), IL-1R C pst1 1970 allele (p=0.0001) and CC genotype (p=0.00006), TNFα G -308 allele (p=0.0002) and GG genotype (p=0.000001) decreased significantly in the patients versus normal subjects.These results suggest that polymorphic variations of these pro-inflammatory cytokines may play an important role in susceptibility of Iranian multiple sclerosis patients.

Abstract: Immunoglobulin class switch recombination deficiencies (Ig CSR deficiencies) or Hyper IgM syndromes (HIGM) are a group of primary immunodeficiency diseases, characterized by defective CD40 signaling of B cells resulting into a CSR and a somatic hypermutation. The affected patients are characterized with reduced serum levels of IgG and IgA, and normal or elevated level of IgM, which lead to increased susceptibility to infections. We describe a 3 year-old boy with frequent bacterial infections of the skin and respiratory tract, mucosal ulcers, and diarrhea. He experienced onychomadesis in both fingernails and toenails during recent bacterial infection. Quantitative immunoglobulin levels revealed high levels of serum IgM and very low levels of IgG, IgA, and IgE. Clinical and immunologic studies supported the diagnosis of HIGM. Onychomadesis as a finding in HIGM could be considered. Considering exclusion of CD40L, CD40, AID and UNG genes by molecular analysis, new CSR selective deficiencies could be suspected in this case.

Abstract: The role of Chlamydia pneumoniae in asthma has drawn much attention in recent years. In this study we assessed the prevalence of C. pneumoniae infections in patients with chronic stable and acute exacerbation of asthma and compared it with normal population. Twenty adult patients with chronic stable asthma and 21 patients with acute exacerbations of asthma and 41 matched control subjects were studied for presence of C. pneumoniae using cell culture. This study suggests that positive results of C. pneumoniae culture are associated with both chronic stable and acute exacerbation of asthma. It could be concluded that C. pneumoniae is a risk factor for either development or exacerbation of asthma.