Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 21 6 2022 12 24 711 715 EN Paula Kage Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, UMC Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany Kristin Schubert Department of Molecular Systems Biology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany Regina Treudler Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, UMC Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany Jan-Christoph Simon Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, UMC Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany Martin von Bergen Department of Molecular Systems Biology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany AND Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany Janina Tomm Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, UMC Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany 2021 10 12 2022 08 01 The green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) originates from New Zealand. To preserve the health benefits of green-lipped mussel meat, it is freeze-dried to make a long-lasting powder. The powder is used to treat arthritis because of its potential anti-inflammatory properties. The report describes a 54-year-old woman who developed immediate rhinoconjunctival and respiratory symptoms after inhaling green-lipped mussel powder she gave to her dog for arthritis. A skin prick test with green-lipped mussel powder was performed. Protein extracts from P canaliculus were separated by sodium dodecyl–sulfate polyacrylamide (SDS) gel electrophoresis and probed with serum from patients and serum preincubated with green-lipped mussel extract. Bound immunoglobulin E (IgE) was detected by specific anti-human-IgE antibodies, and IgE-binding proteins were subsequently identified by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The skin prick test was positive for green-lipped mussel. Specific IgE against green-lipped mussel extract was detected using Western immunoblotting. These potential allergenic proteins were identified by mass spectrometry as actin, tropomyosin, and paramyosin. All three allergens are reported for the first time for P canaliculus. Actin is a major allergen in Paphia textile, paramyosin in Sarcoptes scarbiei, and tropomyosin in Haliotis discus. For all IgE-binding proteins, the software AllCatPro predicted high allergenicity, supporting our conclusion that these proteins from P canaliculus may also be allergenic. The identification of allergens from P canaliculus provides the opportunity for specific tests to assess the frequency of allergic reactions to P canaliculus. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/3378 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/3378/1890

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 21 6 2022 12 24 616 625 EN Fatemeh Ezzatifar Molecular and Cell biology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran AND Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran AND Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Alireza Rafiei Molecular and Cell biology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran AND Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Reza Valadan Molecular and Cell biology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran AND Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Hossein Asgarian-Omran Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Mahmood Jeddi-Tehrani Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Tehran, Iran 2022 08 20 2022 10 01 Expression and location of nucleolin are often abnormal in malignancies, which may result in the production of autoantibodies. Despite this, the identification of such autoantibodies may be essential for the early diagnosis and prognosis of cancers. In this investigation, the recombinant nucleolin protein was generated using an Escherichia coli expression system and was used an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect anti-nucleolin autoantibodies in cancer patients' sera. Lung cancer patients' autoantibodies displayed the highest seroreactivity with the recombinant protein, with area under the curve of 0.948 and sensitivity and specificity of 85% and 96.67%, respectively (accuracy=92%). Anti-nucleolin autoantibodies were linked with lung tumor size (r=0.793), tumor, node, metastasis staging (r=0.643), and proliferation (r=0.744). These autoantibodies distinguished patients with early-stage lung cancer from healthy controls. Since anti-nucleolin autoantibodies are strongly linked to tumor size, clinical staging, and growth, they can be used to measure how well a treatment is working.   https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/3636 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/3636/1892

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 21 6 2022 12 24 716 717 Zahra Asadi Students Research Committee, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran AND Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical School, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran Asad Vaisi-Raygani Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical School, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran Faranak Aghaz Nano Drug Delivery Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran 2022 06 05 2022 10 10 No Abstract No Abstract No AbstractNo Abstract https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/3564 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/3564/1905

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 21 6 2022 12 24 630 637 Tahereh Soltantoye Department of Medical Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Behnia Akbari Department of Medical Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Hamid Reza Mirzaei Department of Medical Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Jamshid Hadjati Department of Medical Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2022 07 26 2022 10 24 Cell-based cancer therapies have led to a paradigm shift in the treatment of patients with various cancers. To date, a vast majority of cancer immunotherapies have used genetically engineered T cells to target tumors. Stimulation and ex vivo expansion of T cells, as one of the crucial starting materials for T cell manufacturing, have always been a critical part of adoptive T-cell therapy (ACT). Typically, anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) along with interleukin-2 (IL-2), through transducing signals one, two, and three, respectively, are essential for in vitro T cell activation. Terminal differentiation and replicative senescence are the main barriers of the ACTs during the manufacturing of engineered T cells ex vivo.In this study, we aimed to compare the T cell activation protocol that we  developed in our lab (soluble anti-CD3/28 mAbs) with a common T cell activation protocol (immobilized anti-CD3/soluble anti-CD28) in terms of T cell expansion, activation, immunophenotype, and cellular fate. We observed that T cells were equally expanded in both protocols. Notably, our modified protocol promoted the outgrowth of CD8+ T cells postactivation. Concerning the low concentrations of both soluble anti-CD3 and anti-CD28, the modified protocol could significantly enrich memory T cell subsets. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that the soluble CD3/28 mAbs protocol is cost-effective and more efficient for generating more potent T cells, thereby expecting a better therapeutic outcome. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/3613 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/3613/1891

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 21 6 2022 12 24 638 645 Amirhossein Salehi Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran Ebrahim Hazrati Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Medical Faculty, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Hamta Ranjbar Student Research Committee, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Javad Behroozi Department of Genetics and Advanced Medical Technology, Faculty of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Bahram Pakzad Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran Maryam Mousavi Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran Mojtaba Mousavi Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Marzieh Hossein Balam Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran Mansour Salesi Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran 2022 10 22 2022 11 29 Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) has been introduced as one of the critical genetic factors in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in microRNA binding sites, known as miRSNPs, are a class of common variants in the 3′ untranslated regions of genes targeted by miRNAs. miRSNPs unbalance gene expression by disrupting the binding regions of microRNAs. In this study, we intended to evaluate the association of two miRSNPs with the risk of RA development and its clinical features. We studied 120 Iranian patients with RA and 125 non-RA subjects as controls. The genotypes and alleles of rs1053005 and rs1053023 in each individual were assessed by the high-resolution melting method. The distribution of STAT3 variants did not differ markedly in RA patients compared to healthy controls. Stratification analysis revealed that rs1053005 was linked with a higher concentration of C-reactive protein and an increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, two indicators of inflammation and disease activity in RA patients. The rs1053023 variant was correlated with higher levels of creatinine as an indicator of renal involvement. Our data demonstrate an association between STAT3 variants and clinical characteristics of RA, such as disease activity and probably kidney impairment.  However, we did not observe a significant relationship between the two targeted variants and a predisposition to RA. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/3682 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/3682/1906

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 21 6 2022 12 24 646 656 Maryam Hemmatzadeh Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran AND Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran AND Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran Elham Ahangar Parvin Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran Alireza Ghanavatinejad Department of Immunology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Narges Rostami Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran Mehrzad Hajaliloo Connective Tissue Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran Navid Shomali Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran AND Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran AND Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran Hamed Mohammadi Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran AND Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran Farhad Jadidi-Niaragh Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran AND Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran 2022 08 15 2022 10 08  Natural killer (NK) cells play a role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Upregulated levels of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) is a sign of exhausted NK cells that could be regulated by microRNAs (miRNAs). In this investigation, we determined PD‑1 expression on NK cells (as a representation of NK cell exhaustion) in RA patients and evaluated if miRNAs are involved in the modulation of PD-1 expression in NK cells. Peripheral blood specimens were obtained from 40 RA patients and 20 healthy subjects. NK cells were isolated by negative selection from a pool of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The frequency of PD-1–expressing NK cells and the expression of PD-1 on NK cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Real-time PCR was used to measure the expression levels of PD-1 mRNA and miRNAs in the NK cells. The percentage of the PD-1–expressing NK cells and Mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of PD-1 expression on the NK cells were significantly higher in the RA cases compared to the controls. The mRNA expression of PD-1 was significantly upregulated in NK cells from RA patients compared to healthy subjects. The expression levels of miR-28, miR-138, and miR-4717 were significantly downregulated in the NK cells from RA patients compared to the healthy group. In RA, miRNAs probably regulate the NK cell exhaustion process through driving PD-1 expression. https://ija Fallahpour Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Hazrat Rasoul-E-Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran Sima Shokri Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Hazrat Rasoul-E-Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran Javad Ahmadian Department of Pediatric, Emam Reza Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran Rasool Molatefi Department of Pediatrics, Bu Ali Hospital, Ardebil University of Medical Sciences, Ardebil, Iran Mahsa Rekabi Pediatric Respiratory Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Zeinab Moinfar Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Paniz Hashemitari School of Medicine, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy Narges Eslami Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Mofid Children’s Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2020 08 06 2021 02 07 Asthmatic patients may have aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease and experience acute dyspnea and nasal symptoms within 3 hours after the ingestion of aspirin. This study aimed to evaluate the effect and outcome of daily low-dose aspirin in the treatment of moderate to severe asthma in patients with concomitant aspirin hypersensitivity and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP). This clinical trial was conducted from February 2014 to February 2015 on 46 adult patients with moderate to severe asthma accompanied by CRSwNP. Patients with a positive aspirin challenge were blindly randomized in three groups receiving placebo/day (A); aspirin 100 mg/day (B); and aspirin 325mg/day (C), respectively. Clinical findings, FEV1 and ACT scores were recorded and compared before, during, and after treatment for 6 months. Of 46 participants at baseline, 30 patients completed this 6-month trial study. The level of asthma control was significant; based on Asthma Control Test (ACT) when comparing the results in groups A and C and also groups B and C, but it was not significant when comparing ACT scores between groups A and B. FEV1 before and after treatment was significant when comparing groups A and B, groups A and C, and groups B and C. To conclude, aspirin desensitization with a daily dose of 325 mg aspirin resulted in the improvement of long-term control of asthma. A daily aspirin dose of 100 mg was not associated with such an increase in ACT score. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/2925 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/2925/1702

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 20 3 2021 06 06 294 302 Heidar Ali Kafashan Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran Ahmad Reza Khosravi Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran Soheila Alyasin Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran AND Allergy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Najmeh Sepahi Allergy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Zahra Kanannejad Allergy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Farzaneh Mohammad Ali Zadeh Shirazi Allergy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Sahar Karami Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran 2021 01 19 2021 03 11 Airborne pollen is considered one of the causative agents of hay fever, allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and asthma. We aimed to investigate airborne pollens in the context of Shiraz located in the southwest of Iran and find their association with meteorological parameters.  The survey was conducted from October 2017 to September 2018, using seven days of volumetric Burkard spore trap, located in the center of the city. A total of 5810 pollen grains/m3 belonging to 15 taxa were identified and recorded. Among them, 73.8% was the tree, while the grass, shrub, and weed constituted 13.56%, 3.5%, and 9.2% of total reported pollens, respectively. The major pollen types were Platanaceae (28.39%), Oleaceae (21.17%), Pinaceae (15.11%), Amaranthaceae (9.29%), and Brassicaceae (8.02%). A higher number of pollen counts and types were recorded in March, followed by September, while it was lower in May. Meteorological parameters were correlated with the monthly pollen counts. Wind speed was found to have a positive correlation with Platanaceae concentration. The significant correlation between pollen concentration and the temperature was positive for Poaceae, Amaranthaceae, and Plantaginaceae and negative for Rosaceae, Oleaceae, and Ulmaceae.  Poaceae and Amaranthaceae were negatively correlated with humidity and positively with Rosaceae, Oleaceae, and Plantaginaceae. A negative correlation was found between rainfall and Poaceae and Amaranthaceae, while Plantaginaceae had a positive correlation with this parameter. The results of this study may be helpful for allergologists in the diagnosis and treatment of airborne allergic disorders due to pollen grains. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/3103 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/3103/1706

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 20 3 2021 06 06 303 313 Mehdi Hassani School of Medicine, Aja University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Dehani School of Medicine, Aja University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran Maryam Zare Rafie School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran Emran Esmaeilzadeh Fetal Health Research Center, Hope Generation Foundation, Tehran, Iran Saeideh Davar Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran Bahram Pakzad Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran. Meysam Mosallaei School of Medicine, Aja University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran Seyyed Mohamad Hoseini Department of Pediatric, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran Hadi Bayat Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran AND Medical Nano-Technology and Tissue Engineering Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohsen Soosanabadi Department of Medical Genetics, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran 2021 04 12 2021 05 19 MicroRNA-124 (miR-124) is known as an important regulator of the immune system and inflammatory response. Studies have reported that this miRNA is dysregulated in autoimmune disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A functional analysis demonstrated that rs531564 (C>G) affects the biogenesis of primary microRNA transcript-124 (pri-miR-124) and changes the expression of mature miR-124. In the present study, for the first time, we intended to evaluate the possible association between rs531564 polymorphism with SLE and RA risk.  In this case-control study, 110 patients with SLE, 115 patients with RA, and 120 healthy subjects were enrolled to evaluate rs531564 genotypes with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) high resolution melting method. Our findings demonstrated that frequency of GC genotype and G allele were considerably higher in the control group than RA patients, demonstrating that that GC genotype and G allele have a protective effect for healthy individuals (GC vs CC; OR: 0.29; 95%CI [0.12,0.67] and G vs C; OR: 0.42; 95%CI [0.23,0.78]). However, no significant correlation was confirmed between allele and genotype frequencies of rs531564 with SLE risk (p>0.05). However, the G allele in rs531564 polymorphism was associated with serum level of C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), anti-dsDNA antibody, C3, C4, and creatinine, and frequency of renal involvements in SLE patients (p<0.05). Moreover, in RA patients, the G was correlated with lower concentration ESR and CRP (p<0.001).  Our findings propose a considerable association between rs531564 polymorphism in the pri-miR-124 gene with susceptibility and clinical characteristics of RA and SLE in the Iranian population. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/3190 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/3190/1719

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 20 3 2021 06 06 314 325 Ameneh Zare-Chahoki Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran AND Shefa Neuroscience Research Center, Khatam Alanbia Hospital, Tehran, Iran Meysam Ahmadi-Zeidabadi Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Saeid Azadarmaki Clinical Laboratory, Khatam Alanbia Hospital, Tehran, Iran Samira Ghorbani Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada Farshid Noorbakhsh Shefa Neuroscience Research Center, Khatam Alanbia Hospital, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2021 02 07 2021 04 27 Perturbed expression of microRNAs (miRs) has been reported in different diseases including autoimmune and chronic inflammatory disorders. In this study, we investigated the expression of miR-25-3p and its targets in the central nervous system (CNS) tissue from mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). We also analyzed the expression of miR-25 and its targets in activated macrophages and splenocytes. EAE was induced in 12-week old female C57BL/6 mice; using myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 35-55/complete Freund's adjuvant (MOG35-55/CFA) protocol. The expression of miR-25-3p and its targets, as well as the expression of inflammatory cytokines, were analyzed. We next established primary macrophage cultures as well as splenocyte cultures and evaluated the levels of miR-25-3p and its target genes in these cells following activation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and anti-CD3/anti-CD28 antibodies, respectively. MiR-25-3p expression showed a strong positive correlation with the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1α, and IL-6 pro-inflammatory cytokines. The expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog (Pten) and Krüppel-like factor 4 (Klf4) was significantly reduced at the peak of the disease. Interestingly, Pten and Klf4 expression showed a significant negative correlation with miR-25-3p. Analysis of miR-25-3p expression in LPS-treated primary macrophages revealed significant upregulation in cells treated with 100ng/ml of LPS. This was associated with suppressed levels of miR-25-3p targets in these cells. However, anti-CD3/anti-CD28-stimulated splenocytes failed to show any alterations in miR-25-3p expression compared with vehicle-treated cells. Our results indicate that miR-25-3p expression is likely induced by inflammatory mediators during autoimmune neuroinflammation. This upregulation is associated with decreased levels of Pten and Klf4, genes with known roles in cell cycle regulation and inflammation. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/3120 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/3120/1709

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 20 3 2021 06 06 326 337 Fatemeh Safari Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Elia Damavandi Specialized Medical Genetic Center, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch of Academic Center for Education, Culture, and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran AND Department of Photo Healing and Regeneration, Yara Institute, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch of Academic Center for Education, Culture, and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran Abdol-Rahman Rostamian Department of Rheumatology, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Shafieh Movassaghi Department of Rheumatology, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Zeinab Imani-Saber Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mojtaba Saffari Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Majid Kabuli Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Mohsen Ghadami Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Cardiac Primary Prevention Research Center, Tehran Heart Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2020 06 10 2021 01 26 Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that is characterized by inflammation of the articular tissue. This study aims to evaluate the expression of microRNA (miR)-146a-5p, miR-24-3p, and miR-125a-5p in the plasma of RA patients and compare them with those of healthy controls to obtain a specific expression profile for earlier diagnosis and assistance in treating patients. This study was performed on 50 RA patients and 50 healthy controls. Five microliters of blood were taken from each patient/control. Plasma RNA was extracted using the Trisol solution. cDNAs were synthesized; using moloney murine leukemia virus (MMLV) and deoxynucleoside triphosphate (dNTP). Real-time PCR was performed using SYBR green kit. The mean expression of miR-146a-5p, miR-24-3p, and miR-125a-5p in the RA group were 8.1±1.9, 6.5±1.2, and 6.8±2.2 and in the healthy group were 4.8±1.6, 3.6±2.2, and 3.4±1.7, respectively. Significant differences were also observed in the mean expression of these three miRNAs in four subgroups of RA patients with different disease activity based on disease activity score 28 (DAS28) (p<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that miR-146a-5p (AUC=0.8, sensitivity= 96%, specificity=86%), miR-24-3p (AUC=0.7, Sensitivity=95%, Specificity=75%) and miR-125a-5p (AUC=0.71, sensitivity=93%, specificity=84%) could be used as suitable biomarkers for RA diagnosis. Increased expressions of miR-146a-5p, miR-24-3p, and miR-125a-5p in RA patients indicate that the miRNAs are involved in disease incidence and progression, and the measurement of their expression can play an essential role in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/2857 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/2857/1699

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 20 3 2021 06 06 338 349 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 Elham Farhadi Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Inflammation Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Vodjgani Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Jafar Karami Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Laboratory Sciences, Khomein University of Medical Sciences, Khomein, Iran Mohammad Naghi Tahmasebi Division of Knee Surgery, Department of Orthopedics, 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 Marzieh Asgari Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Nima Rezaei Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran Shayan Mostafaei Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, 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 20