Research in Molecular Medicine
Volume:2 Issue: 1, Feb 2014

Host genetic factors play a central role in determining the clinical phenotype of human diseases. Association between two polymorphic loci in human genome, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs), and genetically complex infectious disease particularly those of viral etiology have been historically elusive. Hence, defining the influence of genetic diversity in HLA and KIRs on outcome of viral infection has begun extensively in clinically well-defined cohort studies. HLA genes encode molecules which present antigenic peptide fragments to T lymphocytes as central players in adaptive immunity against infectious diseases. KIRs are expressed on natural killer cells which perform a vital role in innate immunity to pathogen infection. The effector function of NK cells such as direct killing of infected cells, cytokine production and cross-talk with adaptive immune system are dependent on activation of NK cells which is determined by its surface receptors. Among these receptors, KIRs which interact with HLA class I are mainly inhibitory and exhibit substantial genetic diversity. An extensive body of association studies indicates a role for HLA–KIRs interactions in infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, cancer, transplantation and reproduction. Various compound HLA-KIR genotypes appear to affect outcome of viral infections that suggests a role for HLA class I diversity in innate immunity as well as adaptive immune responses. The aim of this review is focusing on the impact of HLA and KIR alleles and different combinations of these alleles on clinical outcome of viral diseases to validate this proof-of-concept with respect to the therapeutic interventions.

BCKGROUND AND There are many reports regarding to effects of Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and stem cell factor (SCF)alone in liver repair. But conflicting data have been reported regarding the role of growth factors such as G-CSF and SCF in the liver regeneration system. Also, there is not such data regarding to effects of co-administration both of G-CSF and SCF in the liver damage condition. An experimental model of rat liver damage induced by the thioacetamide. Five different groups of animals receiving 0.9% NaCl, TAA alone, TAA + G-CSF, TAA + SCF and TAA + (G-CSF+SCF). The activity of glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT/AlT)and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT/AST) were measured after the thioacetamide (TAA) injection and the administration of combination of G-CSF + SCF for 12 weeks. Also histological tests were carried out at the end experiments. The pre-treatment of combination of G-CSF and SCF for 12 weeks reduced the degree of liver injury. The mean of GOT activity was 61.24 (U/L) in the G-CSF +SCF and versus 132.86 in the TAA-alone group. These differences in the GOT activity were statistically significant (P<0.05). Also, in the G-CSF +SCF and TAA group the mean of GPT activity (4.35 versus 11.79, respectively) were lower than in the TAA-alone group, this difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Liver sections from a rat treated only with TAA, showing damage, but TAA and G-CSF + SCF no significant damage is present. On the other hand histological results revealed a very mild degree of inflammation were observed in the livers of the combination of G-SCF+SCF and TAA-treated rats compared to TAA only treated group. Biochemical and microscopic analysis revealed that combination of G-CSF and SCF pre-treatment significantly enhances liver regeneration after TAA –induced liver injury.

The vascular function of Angiotensin II-type-2 receptors in adults is controversial. We sought their location and function in mouse aortic rings at young and old mice. Male C57Bl mice (aged 4 and 14 months) were killed by CO2. The descending thoracic aorta was cleaned and dissected into rings. Aortic rings were mounted in Krebs’ solution at 37 °C and then setup in a multi-myograph. Also segments of aorta were incubated with or without antagonists then TMR-Angiotensin II and/or QAPB were added. At 4 months, angiotensin II, at low concentrations, caused losartan-sensitive contraction; higher concentrations (100nmol/L) caused relaxation sensitive to endothelial denudation, L-NAME or PD123319. Angiotensin II-type-1 receptors blockade plus L-NAME revealed PD123319-sensitive contraction. At old mice, aortic relaxation to angiotensin II was lost. At young mice, Losartan and PD123319, together but not separately, abolished binding of fluorescent TMR-angiotensin II, to endothelium and smooth muscle, indicatin Angiotensin II-type-1 and Angiotensin II-type-2 receptors in both cell types. In contrast, at 14 months endothelial fluorescence was eliminated by losartan. Aortic endothelium of young adult mice has Angiotensin II-type-2 receptors that release vasodilator nitric oxide. This is lost in old age, explaining age-related loss of vasodilatation by Angiotensin II. Aortic smooth muscle has pro-contractile Angiotensin II-type-1 and Angiotensin II-type-2 receptors in young and old mice. Reciprocal actions of angiotensin II are, due to Angiotensin II-type-1 and Angiotensin II-type-2 receptors situated on different cell types but only at young ages, Angiotensin II-type-1 receptors of unknown function are present on endothelium.

Soil structure is mainly composed of sand, silt, clay and organic materials. Organisms can live in the soil. The large number of stray cats in the cities of Iran is a major environmental and health problem. Toxoplasma oocysts are shed with the feces of cats, so soil is known as a potential source of transmission of toxoplasmosis. The aim of this study was to determine of soil contamination with Toxoplasma gondii oocyst in the public parks of the Arak city. Sixty soil samples were collected from 15 main park of Arak city. Four soil samples from the children''s playground, a potting place, around trash bins and around toilets were taken. Oocyst was isolated from soil by floatation in saturated sucrose. Floating debris was tested by two staining by the modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique and PCR. The target of PCR was the 122 bp fragment of the B1 gene. From 60 soil samples of public parks of Arak city, 8 samples (13%) were suspected to Toxoplasma oocyst contamination in staining smear. Only 3 samples (5%) of 60 samples were positive in PCR. The results showed that the staining method is not a good method to detect oocysts in the soil because the diversity of oocyst in soil is very high and similar in appearance. This study showed soils of public parks in the Arak city were contaminated to oocyst of Toxoplasma. Also molecular method for the detection of parasites in the soil was more suitable than staining method.

DMH enhanced the lipid peroxidation rate by tumor mitochondria above normal tissue counterparts and causes many disorders in antioxidant system in liver and also increase the activity of enzymes that metabolize toxin in liver and colon. The aim of this study was to evaluate the alteration of liver and its enzymes in DMH injection and evaluate protective effect of cell wall and cytoplasmic fractions of Saccharomyces cereviseae enriched with selenium on these tissues. Forty eight female rats were prepared and acclimatized to the laboratory conditions for two weeks, and then animals were divided into 2 groups. All groups received 1, 2- dimethyl hydrazine chloride (40 mg/kg body weight) twice a week for 4 weeks except healthy control. After that the colon carcinomas confirmed, animals treated with cell wall and cytoplasmic fraction obtained from Selenium enriched Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 40 weeks following the first DMH injection, all surviving animals were sacrificed. At sacrifice, colon and liver removed and exsanguinated by heart puncture. For measurement the levels of enzymes laboratory kit Parsazmoon (Tehran, Iran) and autoanalyzor (BT 3000 Pluse, Italy) was used. Results showed that subcutaneous injection of DMH increased the ALT, AST and ALP level up to 78.5, 161.38 and 275.88 U/L, respectively. Also, statistical analysis showed the enzymes level were higher in animals that received cytoplasmic fraction of selenium enriched yeast compared to the control. while the activity of these enzymes was lower in the control group. It should be concluded that administration of cell wall and cytoplasmic fraction prepared from Se enriched Saccharomyces cerevisiae could reduce the tissue changes in the rat liver due to Dimethylhydrazine injection. These beneficial effect would warrant further study on the clinical application of se enriched yeast.

Giardiasis is a one of the most prevalent intestinal parasitic disease in human, treatment of this disease through medicinal plants is very important since parasite resistance to chemical drugs exists. Thus, in this study, the invitro anti-giardial activity of chloroformic extract of Tanacetum parthenium and Artemisia annua on cyst and trophozoite of G.lamblia were investigated separately. In this experimental study chloroformic extracts of Artemisia annua and Tanacetum parthenium on cyst and trophozoite of G. lamblia in vitro were prepared in 1, 10, 50 and 100 mg∕ml concentrations for 5, 10, 30, 60 and 180 min. Purified cysts were used for encystations and culture in TYI-S-33 medium. Then 2 ml of each solution was placed in test tubes, to which 10,000 washed cysts and trophozoites was added. The contents of the tubes were gently mixed and incubated. The percentages of dead parasites were determined by counting 500 cysts. Non treated parasites were considered a control group in each experiment and the viability of the parasites checked with Eeosin stain and statistical analysis were done. The results of study has shown chloroformic extracts of A. annua at 100 mg/ml concentration had affected on Gardia cyst 86% and 100% trophozoite after 1hour. T. parthenium at 50mg/ml concentration killed cysts (83%) and trophozite 100% after 1 hour, respectively. T. parthenium chloroformic extract had a better effect on cyst and trophozoite of Giardia at 50 mg/ml after 1 hour exposure than A. annua extract. According to this study, A. annua and T. parthenium chlorofomic extracts could be considered as more effective anti-giardial. Chloroformic extract of T. parthenium has also shown the anti-giardial activity to compare with A. annua and control groups at all exposure times. Therefore, in the future research using these plants are recommended against Giardia in low concentration in the in vivo, also to find fractions of the pharmacological effects of these plants.