Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 22 6 2023 12 28 510 511 Maryam Nourizadeh IAARI, TUMS Mostafa Moin Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2023 11 20 2023 11 20 No Abstract No Abstract No Abstract https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/3951 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/3951/2003

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 22 6 2023 12 28 512 526 EN Reza Dabbaghipour Department of Medical Genetics, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran AND Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran Elham Ahmadi Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran Mona Entezam Department of Medical Genetics, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Omid Rahbar Farzam Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran Amir Baghbanzadeh Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran Ali Saber Sichani 3 Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA Nazila Jalilzadeh Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran Mahdi Jafarlou Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran Behzad Baradaran Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran AND Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran 2023 04 05 2023 09 18 Scientific research over the past decades has proven the pivotal role of long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) in regulating gene expression. The immune responses are controlled through the interaction of pro-inflammatory (predominance of T helper 17 cells (Th17)) and anti-inflammatory cytokines excretion (predominance of Regulatory T cells (Treg)). Recent studies have marked the impact of many diverse LncRNAs on Treg/Th17 imbalances. Moreover, some of the roots and causes of human diseases can be associated with the alterations in the Th17/Treg ratio. In this review study, we overviewed the association between LncRNAs and Th17/Treg, with the potential of providing novel prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers and promising therapeutic targets in various diseases, particularly cancer.  https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/3806 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/3806/2005

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 22 6 2023 12 28 527 535 Mansour Sadeghzadeh Department of Pediatrics, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran Parisa Khoshnevisasl Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran Akefeh Ahmadiafshar Department of Pediatrics, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran AND Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran Nima Motamed Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran Azadeh Pourmarjani Department of Pediatrics, Ayatollah Moussavi Hospital, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran 2022 09 25 2023 10 15 The aim of asthma treatment is to reduce airway inflammation by avoiding environmental triggers and using daily anti-inflammatory medications. This study aimed to compare the effects of fluticasone propionate (FP) and budesonide (Bud) on the clinical symptoms and control of asthma in children with moderate to severe asthma. In this open-label study, children with moderate to severe asthma were randomly selected to receive either FP 250 mcg or Bud 400 mcg for 3 months. Asthma control test scores were measured in both groups monthly. The clinical symptoms, drug adherence, and rescue medication were also evaluated. A total of 50 patients with ages between 4 and 7 years old were included in the study (25 cases received Bud and 25 cases received FP). Asthma control test scores, daily and nocturnal symptoms, and cough rates were significantly improved in both groups. The average asthma control scores for the fluticasone group were 21.68±3.32 in the second month and 24.84±2.67 in the third month, whereas the budesonide group had scores of 18.52±3.32 and 22.48±4.12 during the same periods. These variances were statistically significant. Additionally, the requirement for salbutamol use was notably reduced in the fluticasone group compared to the budesonide group throughout all three months. The efficacy of fluticasone propionate in decreasing the need for rescue medication and enhancing asthma control test scores was markedly superior to that of budesonide. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/3661 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/3661/2004

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 22 6 2023 12 28 536 550 Sepideh Ghodoosifar Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran Gholamreza Dehghan Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran Reza Safaralizadeh Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran Behzad Baradaran Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran Mehrzad Hajialiloo Connective Tissue Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran 2023 06 27 2023 12 03 MicroRNAs (miRs) play a role in several diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The purpose of this study was to discover new microRNAs and investigate their involvement in RA, examining their connections with inflammation and metabolic markers. New microRNAs related to RA were predicted using Mirbase and TargetScan databases based on RA target genes. The relationships between miRNAs and targets were visualized with Cytoscape software. Real-time polymerase chain reaction confirmed detectable miRNAs and metabolic factors were assessed using immunoassay and spectrometry methods in RA patients and healthy subjects. Four microRNAs (hsa-miR-153-5p, hsa-miR-4270, hsa-miR-4441, and hsa-miR-6754-5p) showed the highest correlation with RA target genes among millions of microRNAs. The expression of miR-146b (fold change=1.8) and miR-4441 (fold change=1.7) was notably reduced, while miR-4270 showed upregulation (fold change=1.8) in plasma from RA patients compared to healthy individuals. MiR-6754 exhibited a decrease (fold change=1.3) but was statistically insignificant. MiR-153-5p expression was undetectable in plasma. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated that miR-4441, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.7728, and miR-4270 (AUC=0.7353) were promising biomarkers for RA. The expression of these studied miRNAs significantly correlated with essential clinical characteristics, including liver enzymes, cholesterol, phosphorus, and vitamin D3. Our findings suggest that miR-4270 and miR-4441, present in the circulation, exhibit distinct expression patterns in RA. These microRNAs may serve as links between inflammation and metabolism and represent promising new biomarkers for this disease. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/3866 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/3866/2006

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 22 6 2023 12 28 551 560 Liangfeng Lin Department of Pediatrics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian Province, China Xiaohao Hu Department of Pediatrics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian Province, China Qiaoyu Li Department of Pediatrics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian Province, China Linlin Huang Department of Respiratory Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian Province, China 2023 07 18 2023 08 19 Asthma, a prevalent chronic airway inflammatory condition, poses a significant health challenge. In this study, we delved into the regulatory mechanisms governing asthma, focusing on Methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3). Through an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced mouse model and interleukin-13 (IL-13)-induced cell model, we mimicked the in vivo and in vitro functions of METTL3 in asthma. Our research revealed that METTL3 expression significantly decreased in asthma-induced mice and IL-13-stimulated cells compared to the control group. Moreover, METTL3 overexpression enhanced bronchial epithelial cell viability and proliferation. Mechanistically, we observed elevated levels of total iron, Fe2+, malondialdehyde (MDA), lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS), alongside reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in IL-13-stimulated cells. Remarkably, METTL3 overexpression counteracted these effects, suggesting a pivotal role in mitigating asthma-related oxidative stress. Furthermore, our study highlighted the involvement of N6-methyladenosine methylation (m6A) modification, where METTL3 regulated the m6A modification of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) RNA, impacting RNA stability. Knockdown of METTL3 suppressed m6A modification on GPX4 RNA, impairing its stability and contributing to IL-13-induced ferroptosis. Interestingly, METTL3 overexpression not only inhibited cell ferroptosis but also alleviated asthma symptoms. Our findings shed light on the epigenetic regulation of asthma through METTL3-mediated m6A modification, offering potential therapeutic avenues for this prevalent inflammatory disease. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/3876 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/3876/2007

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 22 6 2023 12 28 561 574 Sajad Dehnavi Immunology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran AND Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Infectious Diseases Research Center, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Maryam Dadmanesh Infectious Diseases Research Center, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Negin Hosseini Rouzbahani Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Infectious Diseases Research Center, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mahmood Karimi Department of Pulmonology, Faculty of Medicine, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Ali Asadirad Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran AND Cancer Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Mohammad Gholami Infectious Diseases Research Center, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Khodayar Ghorban Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2023 02 07 2023 11 05 Increasing the efficacy of allergen-specific intranasal immunotherapy (INIT) has recently been the main goal of several studies to establish this route as a safe delivery method through mucosal pathways. In this case, the present study evaluated the potential of INIT using ovalbumin (OVA)-loaded mesenchymal stromal/stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes (Exo-OVA) in an allergic asthma mouse model. Together with control groups, sensitized Balb/c mice underwent intranasal immunotherapy with Exo-OVA (10 μg OVA per dose) for three consecutive weeks. Serum-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), interleukin (IL)-4, and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production by cultured spleen cells, lung histopathologic analysis, and nasopharyngeal lavage fluid cellular examinations were then conducted. The results showed that INIT using Exo-OVA significantly increased IFN-γ and TGF-β secretion, while allergen-specific IgE and IL-4 production were dramatically decreased compared to the control group receiving phosphate-buffered saline. In addition, the eosinophil and total cell counts in the nasopharyngeal lavage fluid were reduced, and inflammatory conditions and cell accumulation in lung tissue were ameliorated. In conclusion, the Exo-OVA improved the INIT efficacy compared to free OVA. Therefore, this formulation could be introduced as an effective approach for immunomodulatory purposes with a shorter treatment duration and reduced side effects. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/3767 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/3767/2001

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 22 6 2023 12 28 575 587 Saeid Khosropour Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Elahe Shahvarooghi Departement of Biology, Damghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damghan, Iran Hossein Rezaeizadeh Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Persian Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mary University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Growth and Development Research Center, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children’s Medical Center Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2025 04 21 2025 08 01 Anti-recombinant human acid α-glucosidase (anti-rhGAA) antibody formation is a major challenge in patients with Pompe disease receiving enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). The clinical significance of these antibodies and their detection methods remain uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic and functional relevance of anti-rhGAA antibodies in late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) and to compare the performance of ELISA and Western blot assays. Fourteen patients with LOPD undergoing ERT and 14 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were studied. Serum anti-rhGAA antibodies and their IgG, IgM, and IgA isotypes were quantified using ELISA and verified by Western blot. Motor function was assessed using the Pompe Motor Function Levels Questionnaire, an adapted version of the GMFCS validated for Pompe disease. Total and isotype-specific anti-rhGAA antibody levels were significantly higher in patients than in controls. ROC analysis showed excellent discrimination between groups. Strong agreement was observed between ELISA and Western blot results. However, antibody levels were not significantly correlated with motor function grade. Given the small sample size (n = 14), this non-significant result may reflect limited statistical power rather than a true lack of association. Anti-rhGAA antibody detection effectively distinguishes LOPD patients from healthy individuals. Western blot provides a reliable, low-cost alternative to ELISA, particularly useful in resource-limited settings. Nevertheless, the prognostic utility of antibody titers for functional outcomes remains uncertain and warrants larger, multicenter validation studies. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/4423 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/4423/2264

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 25 2 2026 02 01 200 211 Jianfeng Lu Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongxiang Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Tongxiang, Zhejiang, China Juefei Lu Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongxiang Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Tongxiang, Zhejiang, China Xiaoli Zhang Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongxiang Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Tongxiang, Zhejiang, China Ling Mu Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongxiang Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Tongxiang, Zhejiang, China Weiming Luo Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongxiang Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Tongxiang, Zhejiang, China 2025 04 18 2025 08 31 The aim of this research was to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of integrating cervical length (CL), interleukin-6 (IL-6), placental alpha microglobulin-1 (PAMG-1), and fetal fibronectin (fFN) in predicting preterm birth among pregnant women with threatened preterm labor (TPL). This study retrospectively analyzed clinical data from 150 pregnant women admitted for TPL between January 2021 and December 2024. Participants were divided into two groups based on pregnancy outcome: full-term delivery (n=85) and preterm birth (n=65). Additionally, 100 healthy pregnant women with no history of adverse pregnancy outcomes who underwent routine prenatal examinations during the same period were selected as the healthy control group. All participants underwent transvaginal ultrasound to measure CL, and venous blood samples were collected to assess serum IL-6 levels. PAMG-1 and fFN levels were measured in vaginal secretions. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics among the three groups. However, significant differences in CL, serum IL-6 levels, and positive rates of PAMG-1 and fFN were detected. Pearson correlation analysis showed significant associations between CL, IL-6, PAMG-1, fFN, and preterm birth. ROC curve analysis indicated that the AUC values for CL, IL-6, PAMG-1, and fFN alone were 0.798, 0.803, 0.753, and 0.754, respectively. The combined application of these markers yielded an AUC of 0.920, significantly higher than any single marker. The combined use of CL, IL-6, PAMG-1, and fFN significantly enhances the diagnostic accuracy of preterm birth in patients with TPL. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/4422 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/4422/2255

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 25 2 2026 02 01 192 199 Haiyang Qian Department of Emergency, Dongxihu District people’s Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, China Danni Zhou Department of Emergency, Dongxihu District people’s Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, China Hao Wang Department of Emergency, Dongxihu District people’s Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, China 2025 03 03 2025 08 28 This study explored the diagnostic value of peripheral blood indices for acute pyelonephritis (APN) and the factors influencing poor prognosis. A total of 118 patients with APN admitted to our hospital from January 2022 to June 2024 were retrospectively included as the observation group. Another 62 healthy volunteers were selected as the control group. Clinical data from the two groups were collected, and the diagnostic value of peripheral blood indices for APN was analyzed. The patients were divided according to their prognoses into good-prognosis group and poor-prognosis group, and the influencing factors of poor prognosis were identified by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Compared to the control group, the white blood cell count (WBC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were higher in the observation group, while IgG and C3 were lower. The areas under the curves (AUCs) of WBC, CRP, IgG, and C3 in the diagnosis of APN were 0.857, 0.846, 0.902, and 0.893, respectively, and their combined AUC was 0.981. After 3 months of follow-up, there were 43 cases of recurrence (36.44%). The multivariate logistic analysis showed that serum albumin< 35 g/L and a decrease of the IgG level were the influencing factors of poor prognosis in patients with APN. In conclusion, WBC, CRP, IgG, and C3 had high value for the diagnosis of APN, and serum albumin< 35 g/L and the decrease of IgG level were the i factors influencing prognosis. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/4374 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/4374/2256

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 25 2 2026 02 01 180 191 Fangqian Liang Department of General Practice, North China University of Science and Technology Affiliated Hospital, Tangshan, China Yuyang Yang College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, North China University of Science Technology, Tangshan, China Yao Sun Department of General Practice, North China University of Science and Technology Affiliated Hospital, Tangshan, China Lei Xing Department of General Practice, North China University of Science and Technology Affiliated Hospital, Tangshan, China Xiaolong Yu Department of General Practice, North China University of Science and Technology Affiliated Hospital, Tangshan, China Junzhi Xia Department of General Practice, North China University of Science and Technology Affiliated Hospital, Tangshan, China Jingyuan Gao Department of General Practice, North China University of Science and Technology Affiliated Hospital, Tangshan, China 2025 04 18 2025 07 20 Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) presents a heterogeneous clinical course, with approximately 30% to 40% of patients experiencing spontaneous remission, while others respond poorly to treatment. This study aims to identify reliable biomarkers for risk stratification in IMN patients. We conducted a prospective observational study involving 187 patients with IMN from February 2022 to February 2024. Patients were categorized into remission and non-remission groups based on clinical outcomes one year post-treatment. Comparative analyses revealed that the non-remission group exhibited significantly higher incidences of hypertension, elevated 24-hour urinary protein, higher serum creatinine levels, and increased inflammatory markers, including the systemic immune inflammation index (SII), systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), and pan-immune inflammation value (PIV). Conversely, the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) were lower in non-remission patients. Spearman correlation identified hypertension, 24-hour urinary protein, and inflammatory indexes as positive correlates with non-remission, while eGFR showed a negative correlation. Multivariate logistic regression confirmed hypertension, high 24-hour urinary protein, SII, SIRI, and PIV as independent risk factors for non-remission; eGFR was a protective factor. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that SII and PIV effectively predicted non-remission (AUC=0.743 and 0.759, respectively). These findings underscore the potential of these indicators in assessing disease severity and guiding personalized treatment strategies. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/4419 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/4419/2248

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 25 2 2026 02 01 170 179 Hongbo Wang Department of Otolaryngology, Hebei Children's Hospital, Shijiazhuang , Hebei, China AND Hebei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disease, Hebei Provincial Medical Key Discipline, Shijiazhuang, China Panru