فهرست مطالب

immunology - Volume:3 Issue: 4, Autumn 2006

Iranian journal of immunology
Volume:3 Issue: 4, Autumn 2006

  • 46 صفحه،
  • تاریخ انتشار: 1386/02/15
  • تعداد عناوین: 8
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  • Nader Tajik, Tohid Kazemi, Aliakbar Delbandi, Ahad Ghods, Alireza Salek Moghaddam Pages 150-156
    Background
    In addition to Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) compatibility, genepolymorphisms in cytokines might also be important in the quality of allogeneic immune response.
    Objective
    To evaluate the influence of HLA-DR matching and anumber of cytokine gene polymorphisms on acute rejection after living-unrelated donor (LURD) kidney transplantation.
    Methods
    A total of 42 renal transplants performedat Hashemi Nejad Kidney Hospital (Tehran/Iran) and followed up for 3 months post-transplantation were included. Using PCR-SSP, HLA-DR alleles (DR1- 18) of recipients and donors and gene polymorphisms in TNF-a, TGF-b1, IL-10, IL- 6, and IFN-g of recipients were determined.
    Results
    Acute rejection was observed in 11(26.2%) of renal recipients. The frequency of one and two HLA-DR mismatches in rejector group was 2(18.2%) and 9(81.8%) and in non-rejector group was 13(41.9%) and 17(54.8%), respectively. HLA-DR incompatibility was not significantly higher in rejector (1.82 0.40) compared with non-rejector (1.52 0.57) recipients (P=0.069) and more than half of non-rejectors had completely mismatched HLA-DR antigens with donors. Polymorphisms associated with the mentioned cytokines had no correlation with acute rejection.
    Conclusion
    The predictive value of HLA-DR mismatching for acute rejection is not as prominent in LURD kidney transplantation as in the cadaveric one. In addition, we failed to demonstrate an association between combined cytokine genotypes and HLA-DR matching with acute rejection. Further and more detailed immunogenetic investigations are required in order to have a better prediction of the transplant outcome.
  • Mehri Ghafourian Boroujerdnia, Ghalambor Dezfuly Fatemeh, Emad Mosthophy Nepton, Rahim Chinipardaz Pages 157-163
    Background
    Recent attention has focused on the expression of integrin moleculeswithin the endometrium, and their relation to infertility.
    Objective
    The present prospective study was undertaken to determine whether the endometrium of women with unexplained infertility differs in the expression of very late activation antigens (VLA) from the endometrium of normal fertile women.
    Methods
    Thirty samples ofendometrial biopsies from hysterectomies with non-endometrial pathology and 28 endometrial samples by uterine curetting from infertile women in secretary phase at implantation time were collected, stained with three monoclonal antibodies against β1 integrin subunits including VLA-1 to VLA-3 by immunohistochemical technique and then assessed semi-quantitatively by microscope. Chi-Square test was used to compare the expression of VLA antigens on epithelial cells, stromal cells, lymphocytes and vessels within endometrial tissues between two groups.
    Results
    The results showed that most VLA integrins were present in fertile and infertile endometrium tissues. There were similarities and differences in the expression of VLA molecules in different compartments. VLA-2, VLA-3 expression on endometrial compartments showed an unaltered pattern of staining during the putative window of implantation in either fertile or infertile women with no significant differences (Pvalue> 0.5). VLA-1 expression on endometrial compartments changed in fertile andunexplained infertile women, the differences were related to the presence or lack of the molecules on epithelial and stromal cells respectively.
    Conclusion
    Differences may explain causes of unexplained infertility, and suggests that certain integrins may participate in the cascade of molecular events leading to successful implantation and early placental development which requires more investigations.
  • Hojjatollah Shokri, Farzad Asadi, Ali Reza Bahonar, Ali Reza Khosravi Pages 164-168
    Background
    Herbal medicines have been used since ancient times for treatment of a range of diseases and have represented stimulatory effects on the function of innate immunity.
    Objective
    To evaluate the effects of Zataria multiflora (Z. multiflora) on the function of innate immunity including phagocytic activity and TNF-α secretion in animal model.
    Methods
    Eight BALB/c mice were divided into two equal groups. In group A, Z. multiflora essence was injected intraperitoneally to the mice, in group B, distilled water was injected. Blood was obtained from 4 mice in each group, 4 and 7 days following injection. The amounts of phagocytosis (respiratory burst) and TNF-α secretion were assessed by chemiluminescence and ELISA method, respectively.
    Results
    Significant increase in phagocytosis and TNF-α secretion was observed ingroup A compared with the control group at days 4 and 7.
    Conclusion
    Z. multiflora essence can remarkably stimulate innate immunity function and it may be used to immunize individuals alone or in combination with other immunostimulatory agents.
  • Fereshteh Fani, Eskandar Kamali, Sarvestani, Razieh Yazdanparast, Ahmad Monabati, Shahnaz Rafiei Pages 169-175
    Background
    Autoimmune type 1 diabetes mellitus is caused by T-cell mediatedimmune destruction of the insulin-producing β-cell in pancreatic islets of Langerhans. Specificity of the auto-antibodies and of the auto-reactive T-cells has been investigated, in which several auto-antigens were proposed.
    Objective
    To determinewhether glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) feeding would induce oral tolerance of either T-cell or B-cell compartment in streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats.
    Methods
    Rats in the experimental group were fed 2 mg/kg of GAD (extracted from Escherichia coli) 14 days before intra-peritoneal injections of streptozotocin (30 mg/kg body weight for 5 consecutive days). Two control groups were considered diabetic control group, which underwent STZ injections without receiving GAD, and normal control group. Systemic response was compared between the three groups. T-cells response was assessed by a proliferation assay of spleen cells and those of the B-cells by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for anti-GAD specific antibodies in serum.
    Results
    Compared with the diabetic control group, a significant reduction was observed only in the proliferative response of spleen cells, but not in the level of anti-GAD antibody.
    Conclusion
    GAD feeding induces systemic T-cell tolerance in STZ-induced diabetes.
  • Ragaa Mohamed Issa Pages 176-180
    Background
    The diagnosis of toxocariasis heavily depends on immunological testsbecause the number of parasites is usually few in infected tissues, unless they migrate into an organ such as eye. In general, patients with ocular toxocariasis have serum anti-T canis antibody titres that are significantly lower than those with visceral toxocariasis.
    Objective
    To diagnose the asymptomatic toxocariasis in infants before two years old and suspected pregnant women by an ELISA method utilizing two different antigens of TEE and capture TEX.
    Methods
    This work was carried out between 8/2005 and 4/2006. Specimens of serum collected from 79 infants (apparent healthy) aged between 4 weeks to 30 moths (51 females and 28 males) Also, 28 specimens of serum were collected from asymptomatic pregnant women aged between 18-32 years old and all their infants (17 females and 11 males that their ages were as mentioned above). Serodiagnosis by ELISA was done by using two antigens, Toxocara canis embryonated egg antigen (TEE) and Toxocara canis antigen capture ELISA.
    Results
    Toxocara antibodies were found in 7 and 12 pregnant women, when tested by TEE and capture TEX ELISA respectively. Three out of 28 and 7 out of 28 infant sera were positive for Toxocara antibodies when tested by TEE ELISA and capture TEX ELISA respectively. Active ocular toxocariasis was only diagnosed in the left eye of one mother. All inactive ocular toxocariasis were diagnosed by capture TEX ELISA, except one infant serum, which was diagnosed by TEE ELISA.
    Conclusion
    The capture TEX ELISA was able to discriminate positive and negative toxocariasis samples better than TEE ELISA. In addition, sample analyses by bothcapture TEX ELISA and TEE ELISA is recommended in children and young adults, when toxocariasis is considered in the differential diagnosis of the ocular diseases.
  • Mabel.Charles, Davies, Ganiyu Arinolan, Rasaki Sanusin, Babatunde Osotimehin Pages 181-186
    Background
    Breast milk is important for the overall well-being of infants. Although lactation is relatively robust in the face of poor nutrition, the implication of poor nutrition on non-nutritive factors in breast milk is inconclusive.
    Objective
    This study was designed to find associations between nutritional and immune factors in maternal blood and breast milk with the aim to improve the needed public and individual strategies for a healthy infant.
    Method
    A cross sectional study was conducted on 61 lactating Nigerian women aged 23-40years within the first 3 months postpartum. Anthropometric measurements were obtained while nutritional factors (total protein, albumin) and immunoglobulin classes (IgG, A and M) were estimated by Biuret, Bromocresol green and single radial immunodiffusion methods respectively in maternal plasma and breast milk.
    Results
    Most (73.5%) of the lactating mothers had normal mean body mass index (i.e. not under weight nor obese) and the mean levels of plasma total protein, albumin, IgG, IgA and IgM were within normal reference ranges in these mothers. Nutritional and immunological indices increase in the plasma with length of lactation but decrease in breast milk with lactation. There were no correlation between BMI, plasma indices and milk indices in these lactating mothers.
    Conclusion
    This study supports the superiority of colostrum over transitional or matured milk for the protection and nourishment of infants.
  • Abolhassan Faramarzi, Azra Shamseddin, Abbas Ghaderi Pages 187-191
    Background
    Tonsils and adenoids are involved in both local immunity and immune surveillance for the development of immune defense mechanisms. A number of investigators have found decreased immunoglobulin levels after adenotonsillectomywhile others have failed to find significant changes. The effects of adenotonsillectomy on the cellular immunity of children have not been investigated extensively.
    Objective
    To observe the change in humeral and cellular immune systems before and after operation in patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy.
    Methods
    The study comprised 102 patients; all of the patients underwent adenotonsillectomy. The levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM were measured for humoral immunity and the percent of CD7 and CD19 positive cells were determined in blood samples taken from these patients 24 hours before operation and also 2 and 8 weeks after the operation. The results were subjected to statistical analysis.
    Results
    The present study shows that the serum level of IgA would rise few weeks after the operation. Changes in the IgM and IgG level were not statistically significant postoperatively. In addition, no significant change was detected in B lymphocyte count before and after adenotonsillectomy. In our study, there was a slight decrease in the T lymphocyte count in the early stage of post operation, which returned to normal preoperative value after 8 weeks.
    Conclusion
    Several immune system parameters maintain its normal status several weeks after adenotonsillectomy.
  • Christos Zavos, Jannis Kountouras Pages 192-193