2022 Impact Factor: 1.5
2023 CiteScore: 2.6
pISSN: 1735-1502
eISSN: 1735-5249
Chairman:
Mostafa Moin, M.D.
Editors-in-Chief:
Masoud Movahedi, M.D.
Vol 13, No 1 (2014)
Articles
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Fully mature dendritic cells (DCs) play pivotal role in inducing immune responses and converting naïve T lymphocytes into functional Th1 cells. We aimed to evaluate Listeria Monocytogenes-derived protein fractions to induce DC maturation and stimulating T helper (Th)1 immune responses.
In the present study, we fractionated Listeria Monocytogenes-derived proteins by adding of ammonium sulfate in a stepwise manner. DCs were also generated from C57BL/6 mice bone marrow precursor cells. Then, the effects of protein fractions on bone marrow derived DC (BMDC) maturation were evaluated. In addition, we assessed the capacity of activated DCs to induce cytokine production and proliferation of lymphocytes.
Listeria-derived protein fractions induced fully mature DCs expressing high costimulatory molecules such as CD80, CD86 and CD40. DCs that were activated by selected F3 fraction had low capacity to uptake exogenous antigens while secreted high levels of Interleukine (IL)-12. Moreover, lymphocytes cultured with activated BMDCs produced high amounts of IFN-γ and showed higher proliferation than control. Listeria derived protein fractions differently influenced DC maturation.
In conclusion, Listeria protein activated-BMDCs can be used as a cell based vaccine to induce anti-tumor immune responses. -
Mast cells play an important role in a variety of inflammatory diseases, particularly asthma and atopy. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a member of the large nuclear hormone receptor transcription factor superfamily, and has been recently implicated in the anti-inflammatory response.
To investigate a possible role for PPARγ in human mast cells, we studied the effects of a
PPARγ ligand, rosiglitazone (RG), on stem cell factor (SCF)-induced migration and fibronectin-induced adhesion in human mast cell-1(HMC-1) cells.
It was found that HMC-1 cells expressed PPARγ mRNA. RG inhibited SCF-induced HMC-1 cell migration and fibronectin-induced HMC-1 cell adhesion, the selective PPARγ antagonist GW9662 prevented the inhibitory effect of RG on HMC-1 cells.
In conclusion, RG inhibits the migration and adhesion of HMC-1 cells by a PPARγ-dependent mechanism. -
The association of rs10818488 SNP located in TRAF1/C5 region with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), has been picked up by genome-wide association studies. Independent studies in different populations revealed inconsistent results. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association of this SNP with RA in Iranian population.
A total of 362 cases and 422 healthy controls were recruited in this study. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood and the genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP (Polymerase Chain Reaction– estriction Fragment Length Polymorphism). A set of genotypes was confirmed by sequencing. Genotype and allele frequencies were compared between the case and control groups.
Analysis indicated a higher frequency of A allele in cases, although the difference was not statistically significant (Chi-square=2.8, p=0.09). Comparison of genotype frequencies, revealed higher frequencies of AA and AG genotypes in case group but statistically the difference was not significant (Chi-square=2.72, p=0.25).
These findings suggest that the rs10818488 in TRAF1/C5 region is not associated with rheumatoid arthritis in Iranian population. -
Cow’s milk allergy is one of the most common food allergies in childhood. Beta- lactoglobulin (β- Lg) is a dominant allergen in cow’s milk. Hydrolysis is known as an effective method to reduce the allergenicity of proteins. Thus, the objective of this study was to compare the allergenicity of β-Lg and its hydrolysates using an animal model.
Twenty four BALB/c mice were divided into three groups and subcutaneously injected with native bovine β-Lg and its hydrolysates on days 0, 7 and 14. During the sensitization period, a number of systemic anaphylactic indicators were observed in mice sensitized by β- Lg compared to those sensitized by hydrolysates of β-Lg.
Mice sensitized by hydrolysates of β-Lg showed a significantly lower spleen lymphocyte proliferation level than that sensitized by intact β-Lg. Antibody levels of β-Lg-specific IgE in serum induced by native β-Lg were significantly high. Plasma histamine levels were also evaluated and showed the same trend as IgE. Moreover, the hydrolysates of β-Lg significantly down-regulated IL-4 and IL-5 secretions in serum.
These results suggested that enzymatic hydrolysis could reduce the allergenicity of β-Lg. -
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. The stress is a factor for asthma which indicates a disorder in the function of communicational mediators of nervous and immunological systems such as neurotransmitters. A study indicated that blood serotonin concentration increases in asthmatic patients. Other study indicates that one kind of the serotonin receptors, named 5HT3A, on PBMCs causes secretion of series of pro- inflammatory cytokines which play important roles in allergic asthma disease. Thus, we evaluated the ratio expression level of 5HT3A subtype receptors in asthma.
The Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells were separated from whole blood of 30 allergic asthmatic patients and 30 normal controls by a gradient density centrifugation technique, then the total cellular RNA was extracted and the cDNA was synthesized. This process was followed by real-time PCR using primer pairs specific for 5-hydroxytryptamine 3A subtype receptor mRNA and beta-actin as internal control.
Results revealed that relative gene expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine 3A subtype receptor increased significantly in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of patients with asthma in comparison with normal individuals.
To conclude, considering 5-hydroxytryptamine 3A subtype receptor role in accomplishment of asthma symptoms, this increase in its expression may exacerbate the seriousness of asthma disease. -
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is defined with clinical symptoms of heart burning and regurgitation. It may be associated with external esophageal symptoms such as chronic cough, asthma, laryngitis, chronic lung disease, sinusitis and pulmonary fibrosis. In the present study, rats with chronic aspiration of gastroduodenal contentswere studied for cellular phenotypes and cytokine concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage and lung tissue.
Thirty-six male Albino N-MRI rats were randomly divided into six groups. After anesthesia and tracheal intubation, the animals received either 0.5ml/kg of normal saline (control), gastric juice, pepsin, hydrochloric acid or bile salts by injection into their lungs twice a week for 8 weeks. In sham group nothing was injected. Thereafter, cellular phenotypes and cytokine concentrations of Interleukine (IL)-1α, IL-1β, Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-β, Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α, and IL-6 were assessed in bronchoalveolar lavage and lung tissue homogenates.
The numbers of epithelial cells, macrophages, neutrophils and lymphocytes in BAL and levels of cytokines IL-1α, IL-6, TNF-α and TGF-β in BAL and lung tissue of test groups were significantly higher than the control group. Aspiration of bile salts caused more cytokine levels and inflammatory cells compared to other reflux components.
It can be concluded that GERD with increased cytokines and inflammatory cells in lung could cause or exacerbate asthma and pulmonary fibrosis. -
Assesment of health related quality of life (HRQL) is increasingly recognized as an important part of the patient care in asthma. We aimed to evaluate the effect of personality disorders (PDs) on HRQL and the severity of disease in asthmatic patients.
Ninety seven consecutive patients with asthma and ninety healthy controls were included.
All patients completed a Short Form-36 health survey (SF-36) and Structured Clinical Interview Form for DSM-III-R Axis-II Disorders (SCID-II).
All SF-36 questionnaire scores of asthmatic patients were significantly lower than the controls. There were statistical differences between the asthma severity and the mean scores of vitality and emotional role difficulties of HRQL’s subdomains (p=0.03, p=0.014, respectively). There was a weak but statistically significant correlation between the scores of pain and emotional role difficulties, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) (r=0.27, p=0.007; r=0.24, p=0.01, respectively). When compared to healthy controls, patients with asthma had higher prevalence of PDs (p=0.0001). The most common PDs found in asthmatic patients were obsessive-compulsive and avoidant PDs. HRQL values of asthma patients with PDs were significantly lower than patients without PDs except for the physical functioning subscores on HRQL.
We conclude that patients with asthma have higher prevalence of PDs, which is associated with their poor quality of life. A psychiatric evaluation may be beneficial in patients with asthma if a concomitant PD is suspected. -
Yoga which is used as an adjunct treatment for bronchial asthma is gaining popularity throughout the world. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of yoga on quality of life in patients with bronchial asthma. 120 non-smoking male and female patients of asthma in the age group of 17-50 years were randomized into two groups i.e. Group A (Yoga group) and Group B (control group). All patients remained on their prescribed medication, but Group A patients practiced yoga breathing exercises for 8 weeks. Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) and diary record was used to assess quality of life, number and severity of asthmatic attacks, and the dosage of the medication required at baseline and after 8 weeks. Group A subjects showed a statistically significant improvement in "symptoms", "activities" and "environmental" domains of AQLQ at 8 weeks (p<0.01) and significant reduction in daily number and severity of attacks, and the dosage of medication required at 4 and 8 weeks (p<0.01) compared to the baseline. Yoga breathing exercises used adjunctively with standard pharmacological treatment significantly improved quality of life in patients with bronchial asthma.
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Leukocyte adhesion deficiency type-1(LAD-1) is one of the autosomal recessive immunodeficiency diseases that results from mutation in integrin beta 2 (ITGB2) gene. The aim of this study was to investigate molecular prenatal diagnosis of LAD-1. Four pregnant women with five fetuses (one twin fetus) with clinical and laboratory diagnosis of LAD-1 in their previous children were studied. The chorionic villus sampling (CVS) was obtained when mothers were in 10-12th weeks of gestation.
Mutation analysis of ITGB2 gene for affected children revealed 3 misssense mutations (c.382G>A, a novel mutation, c.2146G>C, and c.715G>A) and one splice site novel mutation (c.1877+2T>C). All parents were heterozygous for these mutations. Consideration of affected gene regions for five CVS samples showed two homozygotes and one heterozygote for mutant allele and two homozygotes for normal allele. Interestingly, one of the twin fetuses was affected and another was normal. Briefly, two cases of CVS samples were affected and three cases of remained CVS samples were unaffected.
This is the first report of prenatal diagnosis of LAD-1 from Iran with two new mutations that can be used for genetic and prenatal diagnosis for all patients suspected to LAD1 and can be helpful to prevent the birth of affected children with LAD-1.
This abstract was presented in the Second International Congress of Immunology, Asthma and Allergy, Tehran, Iran 2013. -
Chronic granulomatous disease is an inherited defect in intracellular killing of ingested microorganisms characterized by recurrent life threatening bacterial and fungal infections including invasive aspergillosis in early childhood.
We report a disseminated aspergillosis as the representative of adult onset chronic granulomatous disease without previous infection, with dramatic response to combination of antifungal and interferon therapy. -
Abortion traditionally means miscarriage and is still known as a problem, which societies have been trying to reduce its rate by using legal means. Despite the fact that pregnant women and fetuses have been historically supported; abortion was firstly criminalized in 1926 in Iran, 20 years after establishment of modern legal system.
During next 53 years this situation changed dramatically, thus in 1979, the time of Islamic Revolution, aborting fetuses up to 12 weeks of conception and therapeutic abortion (TA) during the entire period of pregnancy were legitimated, based on regulations that used medical justifications. After 1979 the situation changed into a totally conservative and restrictive approach and new Islamic concepts as “Blood Money” and “Ensoulment” entered the legal debates around abortion. During next 33 years, again a trend of decriminalization for the act of abortion has been continued.
Reduction of punishments and omitting retaliation for criminal abortions, recognizing fetal and maternal medical indications including some immunologic problems as legitimate reasons for aborting fetuses before 4 months of gestation and omitting the fathers’ consent as a necessary condition for TA are among these changes. The start point for this decriminalization process was public and professional need, which was responded by religious government, firstly by issuing juristic rulings (Fatwas) as a non-official way, followed by ratification of “Therapeutic Abortion Act” (TAA) and other regulations as an official pathway.
Here, we have reviewed this trend of decriminalization, the role of public and professional request in initiating such process and the rule-based language of Iran TAA.
