Iranian Biomedical Journal
Volume:18 Issue: 1, Jan 2014

Most of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections elicit poor immune responses and 75% to 85% of cases become chronic; therefore، the development of an effective vaccine against HCV is of paramount importance. In this study، we aimed to evaluate co-administration of HCV non-Structural Protein 2 and IL-12 DNA vaccines in C57BL/6 mice. A plasmid encoding full-length HCV NS2 protein (non-structural protein 2) was generated and used to vaccinate mice. Negative control (an empty expression vector) was also employed to evaluate the background response. To investigate immune responses against vaccine، C57BL/6 mice received three doses of the vaccine with a two-week interval. Cellular immunity was assessed using 3- (4،5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -2،5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay for lymphocyte proliferation، lactate dehydrogenase release for cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity and cytokine assay. The findings demonstrated that immunization of mice with plasmid expressing HCV NS2 induced CTL response، interferon gamma production، and lymphocyte proliferation compared to negative control. The results also demonstrated that co-administration of IL-12 with the HCV NS2 plasmid induced significantly better immune response in C57BL/6 mice. DNA vaccine encoding HCV NS2 is an effective candidate that can trigger CTL-based immune response against HCV. In addition، the results suggested that combining the DNA vaccine approach with immune stimulatory cytokines may significantly enhance antigen-specific immune responses.

Integrins are heterodimeric glycoprotein receptors that regulate the interaction of cells with extracellular matrix and may have a critical role in implantation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ovulation induction on the expression of α4، αv، β1، and β3 integrins in mouse blastocyst at the time of implantation. The ovarian stimulated and non-stimulated pregnant mice were sacrificed on the morning of 5th day of pregnancy. The blastocysts were collected، and the expression of αv، α4، β1، and β3 integrins was examined using real-time RT-PCR and immunocytochemical techniques، then their ovarian hormones were analyzed at the same time. The implantation sites in uterine horns of other pregnant mice in both groups were determined under a stereomicroscope on the 7th day of pregnancy. The results showed that the expression of αv، β1، and β3 integrins in both mRNA and protein levels was significantly lower in the ovarian stimulated group than the control group، and the maximum ratio of expression was belonged to β1 molecule (P>0. 05). The implantation rate in superovulated mice was significantly lower than control mice. It was suggested that ovulation induction decreased the expression of αv، β1، and β3 integrins of mouse blastocysts.

Oleuropein is a phenolic compound which is present in the olive leaf extract. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the neuroprotective effect of oleuropein as an antioxidant agent on the substantia nigra in aged rats. Twenty 18-month-old Wistar rats (450-550 g) were randomly divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental group received a daily single dose of 50 mg/kg of oleuropein by oral gavage for 6 months. The control group received only distilled water. All rats were sacrificed two hours after the last gavage and the brains were removed and midbrains were cut. One part of the midbrains were homogenized and centrifuged. The tissue supernatant was assayed for lipid peroxidation (LPO) and antioxidant enzyme activities. The other part of midbrains fixed and embedded in paraffin، then processed for Nissl and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. Data was analyzed using SPSS by t-test. Differences were considered significant for P<0. 05. The level of LPO in midbrain of the rats was decreased significantly in the experimental group، but superoxide dismutase، catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities were increased in experimental group compared to control group (P<0. 05). Morphometric analyses showed significantly that the experimental group had more neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) either in Nissl or IHC staining when compared to control (P<0. 05). The results of the present study indicate that treatment of the old rats with oleuropein reduces the oxidative damage in SNc by increasing the antioxidant enzyme activities.

Inflammation is involved in development، progression، and complications of atherosclerotic disease. Clinical studies have indicated that the level of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1)، IL-18، and adhesion molecules correlates with the severity of atherosclerosis and can predict future cardiovascular events. Experimental studies have shown pentoxifylline (PTX) reduces these factors in animal models. The purpose of the present pilot study was to evaluate effect of PTX on a group of inflammatory biomarkers in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Forty patients with angiographically documented CAD، who fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria، were entered in the double-blind، randomized، pilot clinical study. The patients were randomly given PTX (400 mg three times daily) or placebo (3 tab/day) for 2 months. Serum concentrations of MCP-1، IL-18، intercellular adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM-1)، and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) were measured before and at the end of intervention by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay.

Our study showed that the serum levels of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 was decreased in the study population after two-month treatment (P<0. 05).

Based on the results of our pilot study، administration of PTX in CAD patients significantly decreases adhesion molecules levels.

Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by guanine-adenine-adenine (GAA) triplet expansions in the FXN gene. Its product، frataxin، which severely reduces in FRDA patients، leads to oxidative damage in mitochondria. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the triple nucleotide repeated expansions in Iranian FRDA patients and to elucidate distinguishable FRDA clinical differences in these patients. A number of 22 Iranian patients (8 females and 14 males) from 16 unrelated families were studied. DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of patients. The frequency and length of (GAA) n repeats in intron 1 of the FXN gene were analyzed using long-range PCR. In this study، the clinical criteria of FRDA in our patients and the variability in their clinical signs were also demonstrated. An inverse relationship was observed between GAA repeat size and the age of onset. Although some distinguishable clinical features (such as limb ataxia and lower limb areflexia) were found in our patients، 90-95% of them had extensor plantar response and dysarthria. The results showed only one positive diabetes patient and also different effects on eye movement abnormality among our patients. The onset age of symptoms showed a significant inverse correlation with allele size in our patients (P>0. 05). Based on comparisons of the clinical data of all patients، clinical presentation of FRDA in Iranian patients did not differ significantly from other FRDA patients previously reported.

Progress in the field of biology and biochemistry has led to the discovery of numerous bioactive peptides and proteins in the last few decades. Delivery of therapeutic proteins/peptides has received a considerable amount of attention in recent years. In this study، a two-step desolvation method was used to produce biodegradable hydrophilic gelatin nanoparticles (GNP) as a delivery system of protein model (BSA). The size and shape of the nanoparticles were examined by dynamic light scattering and scanning electron microscopy. Particles with a mean diameter of 200-300 nm were produced and the percentage of entrapment efficiency was found to be 87. 4. The optimum amount of theoretical BSA loading was obtained، the release of BSA was monitored in vitro، and the mechanism of release was studied. The BSA release profile showed a biphasic modulation characterized by an initial، relatively rapid release period، followed by a slower release phase. Results show that the two-step desolvation is an appropriate method for preparing GNP as a delivery vehicle for BSA.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a progressive stage of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is characterized by steatosis with inflammation. Investigations have suggested that oxidative stress may play an important role in the progress of NAFLD to NASH. To provide further insights into beneficial effects of antioxidants in NASH prevention, we employed two manganese-superoxide dismutase/catalase mimetics, manganese N,N`-bis(salicyldene) ethylene diamine chloride (EUK-8) and manganese-3-methoxy N,N`-bis(salicyldene)ethylenediamine chloride (EUK-134), as two salen representatives and vitamin C as the standard antioxidant. Experimental NASH was induced in Male N-Mary rats by feeding a methionine/choline-deficient (MCD) diet to rats for 10 weeks. The rats (n = 5, 30 mg/kg/day) were randomly assigned to receive vitamin C, EUK-8, EUK-134 or vehicle orally. Administration of salens together with the MCD diet reduced the serum aminotransferases, glutathione transferase and alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol, and LDL contents. In addition, the EUK-8 and EUK-134 improved NASH pathological features in liver of MCD-fed rats. EUK-8 and EUK-134 supplementation reduces NASH-induced abnormalities, pointing out that antioxidant strategy could be beneficial for prevention of NASH.