Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 20 6 2021 12 08 647 671 Afshin Abdi Ghavidel Student Research Committee, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mahbubeh Rojhannezhad Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran Bahram Kazemi Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mojgan Bandehpour Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2021 01 12 2021 07 06 The widespread outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 in late 2019 caused many people worldwide to die or suffer from certain clinical complications even after the recovery. The virus has many social and economic adverse effects. Studies on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have specified that spike, surface glycoprotein antigen, is considered as a major target to stimulate the immune system. This glycoprotein binds to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 on the surface of human cells especially lung epithelial cells and facilitates the virus entry. Therefore, the immune response stimulated by vaccination targeting this antigen may cause immunity against the whole virus. Currently, many companies are working on SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. They include ‘traditional’ vaccines like attenuated or inactivated virus platforms as well as the brand-new generations of vaccines such as viral vector-based, subunit, nucleic acid-based, and virus-like particle vaccines. Certainly, each vaccine platform presents several advantages and disadvantages affecting its efficacy and safety which is the main topic of this paper. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/3097 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/3097/1765

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 20 6 2021 12 08 672 683 Xiying You Department of Pediatrics, Xi’an Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi’an, China Xiaopeng Sun Department of Otolaryngology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Medical College, Xi’an, China Junfei Kong Department of South District Outpatient, Xi’an Children’s Hospital, Xi’an, China Jifeng Tian Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Xi’an Children’s Hospital, Xi’an, China Yanping Shi Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Xi’an Children’s Hospital, Xi’an, China Xia Li Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Xi’an Children’s Hospital, Xi’an, China 2020 12 27 2021 04 11 Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a complex, chronic immunoinflammatory disorder of the membrane lining of the nasal mucosa. D-Pinitol is considered a cyclic polyol with a potential effect against various allergies. In the present study, we evaluated the anti-allergic effect of pinitol on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced AR model in mice. BALB/c mice were initially sensitized with an intraperitoneal injection of OVA and divided into 5 groups (n=18, in each group) for a treating schedule of distilled water (DW), montelukast (10 mg/kg), and pinitol (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) through the mouth. Two saline-injected groups were considered as controls by orally administrating DW and pinitol 20. Thereafter, test and control groups were intranasally challenged by OVA and saline, respectively. Our results showed that the OVA challenge caused a marked elevation in AR symptoms like nasal rubbing, sneezing, and discharge which were remarkably diminished using pinitol (10 and 20 mg/kg) and the results were comparable with montelukast. Additionally, increased levels of total and OVA-specific serum Immunoglobulin (Ig) E and IgG1 were significantly attenuated by pinitol as compared to the control group but not the montelukast group. In AR-induced mice, pinitol had significant modulatory effects on representative markers of Th2 (GATA binding protein 3), signal transducer and activator of transcription-6, Interleukins (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-13, suppressors of cytokine signaling 1, Toll-like receptor 4, and myeloid differentiation factor 88), and Type 1 T helper (Th1) immune responses (T-box protein expressed in T cells and Interferon-gamma) as well as the histopathological aberrations induced in the nasal mucosa. In conclusion, Pinitol had potential effects on OVA-induced AR mice through amelioration of nasal symptoms and balancing the Th1/Th2 immune responses during the allergic rhinitis condition. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/3077 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/3077/1749

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 20 6 2021 12 08 648 692 EN Linlin Feng Department of Pediatric, Taian City Central Hospital, Taian, China Fengyan Sun Department of Pediatric, Taian City Central Hospital, Taian, China Yan Chen Department of Pediatric, Xintai City People’s Hospital, Taian, China Seyyed Shamsadin Athari Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran Xiaoyun Chen Department of Pediatric, Taian City Central Hospital, Taian, China 2020 09 27 2021 04 10 Allergic asthma is a complex lung disease characterized by breathlessness, airway inflammation, and obstruction. Allergy and allergic rhinitis (AR) are the main triggers of asthma. Vitamin A is an important supplementary factor for the physiological activation of the immune system. In the present study, we investigated the effects of vitamin A on the exacerbation of allergic asthma symptoms. BALB/c mice were allocated to four groups. Asthma was created in two groups, and in the other two groups, rhinitis was induced. One of the asthma groups and one of the rhinitis groups orally received vitamin A (20 IU/g for 15 days). The levels of Immunoglobulin (Ig) E, histamine, leukotriene B4 (LTB4), Cysteinyl leukotriene receptor (Cys-LT), interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IL-35 as well as eosinophil peroxidase activity, were measured. Also, the histopathology of mice lungs was evaluated. The levels of total IgE, LTB4, Cys-LT, IL-4, IL-5, IL-17, and IL-33, eosinophil peroxidase activity, perivascular and peribronchial inflammation significantly decreased in vitamin A-treated asthma and rhinitis groups compared to non-treated groups. Also, IL-13 and histamine levels, hyperplasia of the goblet cell, and hyper-secretion of the mucus insignificantly decreased in vitamin A-treated asthma and rhinitis groups. Asthma and AR are common diseases that are generally developed due to the dysregulation of the immune system. Vitamin A plays an important role in controlling the immunopathologic mechanisms of allergic diseases. Vitamin A could be a useful supplement in managing AR and asthma by decreasing the severity of inflammatory responses. Therefore, control of vitamin A deficiency is recommended in Allergy. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/2988 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/2988/1753

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 20 6 2021 12 08 693 699 EN Mitra Khalili Department of Radiology, Mofid Children’s Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Hossein Farzi Department of Radiology, Mofid Children’s Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Sepideh Darougar Department of Pediatrics, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Fatemeh Hajijoo Department of Radiology, Mofid Children’s Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mehrnaz Mesdaghi Department of Immunology, Mofid Children’s Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mahboubeh Mansouri Department of Immunology and Allergy, Mofid Children’s Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Delara Babaie Department of Immunology and Allergy, Mofid Children’s Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Amir Hashemitari East London NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom Narges Eslami Department of Immunology and Allergy, Mofid Children’s Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Zahra Chavoshzadeh Pediatric Infections Research Center, Mofid Children’s Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2020 11 09 2021 07 17 Respiratory diseases are considered as significant causes of morbidity and mortality in primary immunodeficiencies. This study aimed to reveal the radiologic patterns of thoracic involvement in these disorders. A total of 58 patients, including 38 cases with combined cellular-humoral and 20 cases with humoral immunodeficiencies, were enrolled in this study. The “combined” group consisted of 12 cases with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and 26 cases with combined immunodeficiency. The “humoral” group included seven patients with Hyper IgM syndrome (HIGMs), seven cases with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), three patients with X-linked agammaglobulinemia, and three patients with other types of humoral primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs). The mean age of patients at the time of evaluation was 3.3±3.8 and 5.3±3.9 years in combined and humoral groups, respectively. The findings of chest X-rays and CT scans were interpreted and compared. There was a significant difference for alveolar opacification between combined and humoral immunodeficiencies (58% vs. 30%). The bronchopneumonia-like pattern was detected as a significant finding in patients with SCID (42%) and HIGMs (43%). Atrophy of the thymus was detected significantly often in cases of SCID (67%). Two patients with CVID and lipopolysaccharide-responsive and beige-like anchor protein deficiency showed parenchymal changes of granulomatous lymphocytic interstitial lung disease. No significant difference was detected for bronchiectasis, bronchitis/bronchiolitis patterns, pleural effusion, and thoracic lymphadenopathy. Distinct subtypes of primary immunodeficiency may provoke differing and comparable radiological patterns of thoracic involvement; which can clue the clinician and radiologist to the diagnosis of the disease. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/3029 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/3029/1755

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 20 6 2021 12 08 700 710 Zahra Hamidi Esfahani Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran AND Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Reza Yazdani Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Sepideh Shahkarami Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), Munich, Germany AND Medical Genetics Network (Megene), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran Fateme Babaha Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran AND Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Hassan Abolhassani Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology, Karolinska Institute at Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden AND Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Division of Clinical Immunology, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden Maryam Sadr Molecular Immunology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Ali Akbar Pourfathollah Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran Asghar Aghamohammadi Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2021 03 28 2021 06 23 Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most prevalent form of symptomatic primary humoral immunodeficiencies characterized by failure in the final differentiation of B lymphocytes. The majority of CVID cases have no identified genetic defect, and epigenetic alteration could be involved in the pathogenesis of CVID. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the expression of hsa-miR-125b-5p -and, B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1(BLIMP-1) and interferon regulatory protein-4 (IRF-4) in a group of CVID patients with no definitive genetic diagnosis in comparison with healthy individuals. Ten CVID patients (all known genes excluded) and 10 age and sex-matched healthy controls participated in the study. B lymphocytes were isolated and expression of miR-125b-5p, IRF4, and BLIMP1 were evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Moreover, B cell subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry. The results showed that the relative expression of miR-125b-5p in CVID patients was increased while it was decreased for the BLIMP1 and IRF4 transcription factors compared with the healthy controls. Although a reduction was observed in switched and non-switched memory B cells among all high-miR patients, these subsets were decreased in patients with normal miR expression (71.0% and 85.0%, respectively). Our results suggest that overexpression of miR-125b-5p affects the terminal differentiation of B cells in a selected group of CVID patients by downregulating the BLIMP-1 gene and more intensively for the IRF-4 gene expressions. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/3172 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/3172/1756

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 20 6 2021 12 08 711 720 Parisa Lotfinejad iency(n=1), dedicator of cytokinesis2 (DOCK2) deficiency (n=1), recombinase activating gene1 (RAG1) deficiency (n=1). Very low to zero amounts of TREC and/or KREC were detected in 14 out of 23 cases of common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), 14 out of 17 cases of AT, 8 out of 20 cases of WAS, 6 out of 7 cases of DOCK8-deficiency patients, 4 out of 8 cases of HIES with unknown genetic defects and all patients with defects in DOCK2, PNP, and RAG1. STAT3-deficient patients were normal for both biomarkers. All patients showed a significant difference in both markers compared to age-matched healthy controls. Our findings highlight that apart from severe types of T/B cell defects, this assay can also be used for early diagnosis the patients with late-onset of disease and even PIDs without a positive family history. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/3043 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/3043/1718

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 20 4 2021 08 07 413 422 Dragana Jovanovic Clinic of Allergy and Immunology, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia Aleksandra Peric-Popadic Clinic of Allergy and Immunology, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia AND Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia Sladjana Andrejevic Clinic of Allergy and Immunology, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia AND Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia Maja Stojanovic Clinic of Allergy and Immunology, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia AND Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia Branka Bonaci-Nikolic Clinic of Allergy and Immunology, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia AND Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia 2020 08 12 2021 04 06 Adults with systemic anaphylactic reactions (SAR) to insect sting show often multiple-positivity of serum-specific IgE (sIgE) to Hymenoptera venoms. Unnecessary long-lasting venom-specific immunotherapies (VIT) in false-positive patients increase the risk of recurrent SAR. This report aims to analyze the diagnostic importance of recombinant allergen IgE testing in patients with SAR to Hymenoptera sting. In 82 patients we measured sIgE to honeybee venom (HBV), wasp venom (WV) and hornet venom (HV) extracts, recombinant phospholipase A2 from HBV (sIgE-rApi m1), recombinant antigen 5 from WV (sIgE-rVes v5), and cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants-CCD-bromelain by ImmunoCAP. We analyzed the correlation of ImmunoCAP and Immunoblot for HBV and WV extracts, rApi m1, and rVes v5 in 39/82 patients. According to the history of the culprit insect, we compared sensitivity and specificity between the two methods. The severity of the SAR does not depend on the sIgE level to venom extracts and recombinant allergens. Fifty-one percent of the patients had a multiple-positivity to HBV/WV or HBV/WV/HV extracts. Severe SAR and CCD-sIgE were more frequent in multiple-positive than single-positive patients. CCD-sIgE were more frequent in HBV allergic patients than WV and HV allergic patients. There was a significant correlation between levels of sIgE to venom extracts and recombinant allergens measured by ImmunoCAP and Immunoblot. ImmunoCAP has higher sensitivity and specificity than Immunoblot for diagnosis of SAR to Hymenoptera venoms. IgE testing to recombinant CCD-free allergens is necessary for the adequate selection of long-lasting VIT, especially in patients with multiple sensitivities to venom extracts. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/2933 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/2933/1726

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 20 4 2021 08 07 423 431 Maryam Khoshkhui Allergy Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Karsten Weller Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Dermatological Allergology, Allergie-Centrum-Charité, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany Javad Fadaee Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran Marcus Maurer Dermatological Allergology, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Allergie-Centrum-Charité, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany Farahzad Jabbari Azad Allergy Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Maryam Emadzadeh Clinical Research Development Unit, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran 2020 10 11 2021 05 16 The urticaria control test (UCT) is a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) for chronic urticaria (CU) patients. As a Persian version of the UCT was not available, the present research aimed to develop such a version, to test its reliability and validity as well as to evaluate urticaria control among Persian-speaking patients. This research was conducted at the Urticaria Centre of Reference and Excellence (UCARE) of Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran. In a first step, a linguistically validated Persian version of the UCT was developed through a structured forward and backward translation process and subsequent cognitive debriefing interviews. In a second step, the Persian version of the UCT was completed by 100 well-characterized CU patients together with two anchor instruments, the Chronic Urticaria Quality of life Questionnaire (CU-Q2oL) and the urticaria activity score (UAS), to obtain information on its internal consistency reliability and convergent validity. The Persian version of the UCT was found to have acceptable internal consistency reliability with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.68. In addition, the results obtained with the Persian UCT correlated with the CU-Q2oL total score (-0.48, p<0.001) and the UAS (-0.404, p˂0.001), suggesting convergent validity. Virtually all patients had poorly controlled CU (UCT<12). A Persian version of the UCT is now available and may help to improve the assessment and monitoring of disease control in Persian-speaking CU patients and to optimize treatment decisions. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/2998 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/2998/1725

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 20 4 2021 08 07 432 440 Jia Li Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China Houyong Kang Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China Suling Hong Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China Yang Shen Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China 2020 07 17 2020 12 26 Patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and allergic rhinitis (AR) (CRSwAR) have a more severe condition with a higher rate of recurrence after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). This study aimed to explore the effect of specific subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) and nasal irrigation on CRSwAR after ESS. Sixty-four patients who were diagnosed as CRSwAR and received ESS were enrolled and divided into groups A, B, and C to receive different postoperative treatment strategies (conventional medication, medication with nasal irrigation, and medication with nasal irrigation and SCIT), and their prognosis was evaluated by scoring, electron microscopy, and inflammatory factors. One year after ESS, the recurrence rate of group C was significantly reduced; and the scoring from baseline was significantly different among the three groups, which of group C were the best. The epithelium arrangement, cilia morphology, and inflammation of nasal mucosa in each group were better than those in the preoperative state; and those in group C were the best. After one year, the expression levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), interleukin (IL)-8, and IL-17 in group B were lower than those of group A; and the expression levels of ECP, IL-8, IL-25, IL-33, IL-17 in group C were lower than those in group A. SCIT combined with nasal irrigation can improve the patients' symptoms and quality of life, promote the epithelialization of the mucosa in the surgical cavity, regulate the local immune response of the nasal cavity; thus improve the prognosis of patients with ESS after 1 year. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/2901 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/2901/1713

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 20 4 2021 08 07 441 452 Saman Yousefi Saqqezi Department of Sport Sciences, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran Akbar Azamian Jazi Department of Sport Sciences, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran Roohullah Hemmati Department of Biology, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran AND Biotechnology Research Institute, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran Nahid Jivad Department of Neurology, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran 2020 10 13 2021 04 18 Some antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), microRNAs (miRs), and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) are involved in autoimmune diseases, which may be affected by exercise training. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of an eight-week combined exercise training (aerobic and resistance) on the expression of inflammatory factors, including, human beta-defensin-2 (hBD-2), cathelicidin (LL-37), TLR-4, miR-23b, miR-155, and miR-326 in women with relapsing and remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), which has not been investigated yet. Twenty-three women (20-40 years) with RRMS were randomized into the combined training (CT) and control (CON) groups. The CT group subjects completed eight weeks of supervised CT using a treadmill and stationary bicycle for aerobic exercise and weight machines for resistance exercise. The expression levels of hBD-2, LL-37, TLR-4, miR-23b, miR-155, and miR-326 were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at the baseline and end of the study. Although the expression of hBD-2 and miR-23b decreased in both CT and CON groups, the reduction was lower in the CT group than in the CON group (p=0.001). The expression of LL-37 in the CT group remained unchanged, but that of the CON group increased; thus, the between-group difference was significant. Although the TLR-4, miR-155, and miR-326 expression increased in both groups compared to the baseline, the increase in the CT group was lower than the CON group. Our results showed that the combined training might improve inflammatory symptoms by affecting the expression of some AMPs, miRs, and TLR-4 in patients with relapsing and remitting multiple sclerosis. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/3000 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/3000/1714

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 20 4 2021 08 07 453 464 Jafar Karami Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Laboratory Sciences, Khomein University of Medical Sciences, Khomein, Iran Elham Farhadi Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Inflammation Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Ali-Akbar Delbandi Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Immunology Research Center, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mehdi Shekarabi Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Immunology Research Center, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Naghi Tahmasebi Department of Orthopedics, Division of Knee Surgery, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Arash Sharafat Vaziri Division of Knee Surgery, Department of Orthopedics, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Maryam Akhtari Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Javad Mousavi Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Hematology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran Ahmadreza Jamshidi Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mahdi Mahmoudi Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Inflammation Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2021 01 01 2021 02 04 Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) produce lots of inflammatory molecules that trigger immune responses and intensification the inflammation and thereby play important roles in Rheumatoid Arthritis )RA( pathogenesis. Due to the important roles of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in cytokine production and inflammation, we aimed to evaluate the effects of TAK-242 (Resatorvid) on interleukin (IL)1-β, IL-6, TNF-α, and TLR4 expression and two important proteins of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway (Ikβα and pIkβα) in RA and trauma FLSs. FLSs were isolated from synovial tissues of trauma (n=10) and RA (n=10) patients and cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM). 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) was performed to evaluate the cytotoxicity effects of TAK-242 on the RA FLSs. Real-time PCR was performed to measure the expression level of IL1-β, IL-6, TNF-α, and TLR4 genes in Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and TAK-242 treated FLSs. Furthermore, the treated FLSs were evaluated for protein levels of Ikβα and pIkβα by western blot. The baseline expression of IL1-β, IL-6, TNF-α, and TLR4 showed no significant differences between healthy and RA FLSs. LPS stimulated FLSs significantly increased mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and TLR4 genes in both the healthy and RA FLSs compared with that of their control groups, and pretreatment with TAK-242 reversed the effect. Furthermore, LPS-stimulated FLSs significantly increased the level of pIkβα in both the healthy and RA FLSs compared with that of their control groups, and pretreatment with TAK-242 reversed the effect. We provide the data that TAK-242 through inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway may modulate TLR4-mediated inflammatory responses and could be considered as a potential therapeutic agent for RA patients. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/3080 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/3080/1724

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 20 4 2021 08 07 465 472 EN Nearmeen Rashad Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt Reham El Shabrawy Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt Ahmed Radwan Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt Reem Allam Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt Rehab Abdul-Maksoud Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt Magda Sherif Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt 2020 08 31 2021 03 15 Diagnosis of unexplained infertility (UEI) is made by exclusion and a relatively common problem that affects couples worldwide. Unfortunately, it is a not uncommon for females to suffer from Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). Interferon-gamma (IFN- γ) has a central key role in HT and in the ability to conceive. We aimed to estimate serum IFN- γ level and its expression profile in Egyptian women with HT and assess their possible association with UEI. In this study, we examined 120 women with HT. We evaluated fertility in all patients; female patients who suffer from UEI were detected. Diagnosis of HT was based on the clinical data and the laboratory measures, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure serum IFN- γ, and the expression of IFN-γ messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) was assayed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). According to the results of this study, 37.5 % of the studied females who suffered from HT were diagnosed with UEI. The serum level of IFN-γ and its gene expression showed a significant positive correlation with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid autoantibodies. However, a negative correlation was found with anti-müllerian hormone (AMH), free T4 (FT3), and free T4 (FT4). Analysis by linear regression revealed that TSH and FT3 were associated with serum level of IFN-γ; while FT3 was associated with IFN-γ gene expression. We concluded that both are valued markers in diagnosing UEI in female patients suffering from HT. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/2917 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/2917/1722

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 20 4 2021 08 07 473 483 Alireza Farrokhian Department of Cardiology, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran Mahtab Miraftab Students’ research center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran Minoo Chenari Students’ research center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran Hossein Akbari Social Determinants of Health (SDH) Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran Hassan Nikoueinejad Nephrology and Urology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Effat Naimi Chemical Injuries Research Center, System Biology and Poisoning Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2020 03 14 2021 02 07  Osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B (RANK) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL), the members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family, have multiple effects on bone metabolism, endocrine functions and, as an inflammatory pathway, in the immune system. This study tried to determine the association of the OPG/RANKL/RANK axis with the severity of unstable angina (UA) as an inflammatory condition. Our study involved 50 patients with UA and 50 healthy people. Serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from all participants. Serum levels and gene expression of OPG, RANKL, and RANK in mononuclear cells were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. For each patient with UA, the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) and the global registry of acute coronary events (GRACE) scores were determined to evaluate the severity of the disease. Then we analyzed the relation of OPG, RANKL, and RANK levels with TIMI and GRACE scores in patients with UA. Discriminate analysis was used to predict the combinational models of such factors on the prediction of UA. Serum levels of OPG and RANKL (p<0.001) and gene expression of RANKL (p<0.001) were significantly more in patients than those in healthy ones. No relation was seen between the OPG/RANKL/RANK axis and the severity of UA according to TIMI and GRACE scores. Our study shows that serum level, as well as gene expression of OPG/RANKL/RANK axis neither, predicts the occurrence of UA nor shows any relationship with its severity. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/2744 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/2744/1720

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 20