Iranian Journal of Immunology
Year:2006 | Volume:3 | Issue:2|Papers Count:8

Background: It is now established that several environmental stresses cause activation of p38 MAP kinase and JNK in various cell types to produce chemokines.Objective: To investigate the expression of CXC chemokines Gro/KC and SDF-1a in rat H4 hepatoma cells in response to heat shock, hyper-osmolarity and oxidative stresses.Methods: Hepatoma cells were maintained in MEM medium. Cells were subjected to different stresses [(H2O2 0.15% (w/v), manitol and NaCl (160 mM) and heat shock (42 °C for 20 minutes)]. Cells were harvested and RNA was extracted, purified and the CXC chemokine Gro/KC and SDF-1a expression was analysed by RT-PCR. cDNA was separated by gel electrophoresis on a 1% (w/v) agarose gel and visualized under a UV transilluminator. Results: Results obtained in this report showed that there was detectable but low expression of both SDF-1a and Gro/KC in H4 hepatoma cells. Heat shock failed to induce expression of SDF-1a and Gro/KC in H4 hepatoma cells of rat. Hyper-osmolarity also has not stimulated SDF-1a and Gro/KC expression. In this study we have also shown that oxidative stress did not induce expression of SDF-1a  and Gro/KC. Overall, although detection is possible but regulatory responses were not observed in H4 hepatoma cells. Conclusion: Several known injurious conditions cause recruitment of macrophages, neutrophils and other immune cells to the liver. Immune cells are recruited to the hepatic vasculature following local liver injury and consequent chemokine production. Our results demonstrated that failure to produce of chemokines by hepatoma cells may be a way to escape from immune surveillance.

Background: The HER-2/neu gene is located on chromosome 17q21 and encodes a 185-kDa transmembrane glycoprotein with tyrosine kinase activity reported to be released in soluble form in various malignancies.Objective: To evaluate the clinical value of soluble Her-2/neu as a diagnostic marker in lung cancer. Method: Serum levels of soluble HER-2/neu were measured in 43 patients with lung cancer and 42 age and sex matched controls by an enzyme immunoassay method.Results: Mean serum level of soluble Her-2/neu in cancer patients was 6.07±10.37 ng/ml which was significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.05). Cigarette smoking had no effect on the level of soluble HER-2/neu. A cut off value of 6.1ng/ml revealed a high specificity (95%) for diagnosis of lung cancer, but a very low sensitivity (14%). Conclusion: The results of this study show an increased level of soluble HER-2/neu in the sera of lung cancer patients with a high specificity but low sensitivity for the diagnosis of lung cancers.    

Background: Myocardial infarction is one of the most common and serious diseases resulting from coronary artery occlusion (obstruction) and major reduction in blood flow which occurs following rupture of atherosclerotic plaque or narrowing of coronary arteries. Streptokinase as a thrombolytic is considered the first and most important therapeutic intervention for reperfusion following myocardial infarction (MI) in most countries including Iran. Our previous study showed that, the prevalence of high antibody titers against streptokinase was 13.5% in the studied population from Iran, which was 2.5 times more common than data from other studies.Objective: To evaluate anti-streptokinase antibody titers before and immediately after streptokinase administration and its relation to reperfusion therapy success rates.Methods: A total of 200 patients with acute myocardial infarction were selected. Antibodies against streptokinase were measured before and 2 days after administration of streptokinase. At admission, before streptokinase administration and every hour after streptokinase administration, for 3 consecutive hours, an ECG was taken from each participant and the changes were evaluated in relation to antibody levels.Results: Out of 200 patients, 42 (21%) had high levels of antibody titer. Out of these 42 patients, 13 (6.5%) still had measurable levels of antistreptokinase antibody after streptokinase administration. Conclusion: With respect to the importance of reperfusion in acute myocardial infarction, our results show the ability of the anti-streptokinase antibody to neutralize effects of streptokinase. Hence, measurement of the serum levels of anti-streptokinase antibody is recommended before streptokinase administration.    

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains an important health problem in the world. Despite its significance in public health, mechanisms of protective immunity against Mycobacyerium Tuberculosis in humans have not yet been understood. Objective: To evaluate cell mediated immune response against purified Ag 85, PPD and Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in patients with tuberculosis and healthy tuberculin positive and negative individuals. Methods: Thirty patients with tuberculosis and 60 healthy tuberculin skin test positive and negative volunteers were participated in this study. Cell mediated immunity was assessed by measuring [3H]-thymidine uptake and detection of IFN- g in culture supernatant using commercial ELISA test.Results: In the present study, we showed that IFN-g production and cell proliferation response to Ag 85 were significantly higher in tuberculin positive than tuberculin negative individuals (P<0.01). Among tuberculosis patients, IFN-g production and cell proliferation response to Ag 85 was significantly lower than the response in healthy tuberculin positive indivisuals (P<0.01). In addition, IFN- g response in patients with cavitary tuberculosis was lower than patients without cavitation (P<0.05).Conclusion: Based on the higher cell mediated immune responses to Ag 85 in healthy tuberculin positive volunteers compared to patients (especially with advanced disease), purified Ag 85 can be used as a sensitive marker for the analysis of immune response in tuberculosis.

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that infects all mammalian cells. Several antigens such as excreted/secreted antigens have been identified as a potential vaccine candidate.Objective: The main goal of this study was to determine how excreted/secreted antigens from peritoneal exudates of infected mice (mESA) stimulate cell-mediated immune responses and induce protective immunity against toxoplasmosis in murine model.Methods: The peritoneal fluids were fractionated by precipitation in 30-80% saturated ammonium sulphate solution. For induction of cell-mediated immune responses, delayed type hypersensitivity was measured in injected footpad. Response to purified antigen was measured by lymphocyte proliferation assay. Nitric oxide was measured by Griess method. For immunization, Balb/c mice were immunized 2 times with mESA, mESA-40% and Toxoplasma Lysate Antigen (TLA). The virulent RH strain of Toxoplasma gondii was used for challenging.Results: The pattern of lymphocyte responsiveness was dependent on the antigen employed. In sensitized mice, those received mESA-40% displayed higher lymphocyte response than mice stimulated by mESA (p<0.05). The highest amounts of nitric oxide were observed in macrophages, which received mESA-40% and mESA (p<0.05). Mice immunized with mESA-40% survived longer than those immunized with mESA and other antigens (p<0.05).Conclusion: As fraction 40% (mESA-40%) showed a good result in induction of cell-mediated responses in the murine model, the purification and isolation of the mESA 40% is highly recommended for future study.    

Background: Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy and is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. Different factors have been contributed in the pathogenesis of glaucoma including H.Pylori infection. Objective: To determine the levels of anti-H.pylori IgG antibody in the aqueous humor of patients with pseudoexfoliation and primary open angle glaucoma, and to compare them with age and sex matched cataract patients.Methods: The study was conducted on 41 cases of glaucoma (21 with pseudoexfoliation and 20 with primary open angle glaucoma) and 39 cases of cataract as the control group. Aqueous humor was aspirated at the beginning of glaucoma or phacoemulsification cataract surgery in glaucoma and cataract patients, respectively. Anti-H.pylori IgG concentration was measured by means of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The aqueous levels of anti-H.Pylori IgG in primary open angle glaucoma (0.44±0.64 U/ml) had no significant difference with cataract (0.24±0.52U/ml) and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma group (0.63±0.71U/ml) (P=0.18 and 0.44, respectively). However, the concentration of this antibody was higher in the aqueous humor of pseudoexfoliation glaucoma patients compared to the control group (p=0.03). Conclusion: The results of this study did not support a relation between H.pylori infection and primary open angle glaucoma. The elevated concentration of anti-H.Pylori IgG in pseudoexfoliation glaucoma compared to cataract patients may be due to the breakdown of blood-aqueous-barrier, a proven finding in this disease.    

Background: Idiopathic anterior uveitis is a form of anterior segment inflammation in which a detailed medical history, general and ocular physical examination, is not associated with any defined clinical syndrome. Alterations in immune system parameters have been reported in patients with idiopathic posterior uveitis, however no study has been performed to evaluate the role of immune system parameters in patients with idiopathic anterior uveitis. In this study the immune system function in patients with idiopathic anterior uveitis was evaluated.Objective: To evaluate the immune system function in patients with idiopathic non-infectious anterior uveitis. Methods: 51 patients with anterior uveitis, 32 women (62.7%) and 19 men (37.3%), participated in this study. Intensity of intraocular inflammation was scored according to standard uveitis grading system. In all cases, serum levels of immunoglobulins A, G, M and E, C3 and C4 complement components, and autoantibodies against ds- DNA and ACLA, were measured using ELISA method.Results: 49 patients out of 51 (96%) showed altered serum levels of immunological parameters, compared to the normal values. Changes in serum immunoglobulin concentration were present in 44 patients, with increased IgA levels being the most common. Serum values of C3 and C4 complement proteins were also increased in 29 subjects. Ds-DNA autoantibody was positive in 15 cases and equivocal in 19 cases. ACLA was positive and equivocal in 3 and 9 patients, respectively. Conclusion: Immune abnormalities found in serum of 49 patients with idiopathic anterior uveitis may play a role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic anterior uveitis.    

Background: HLA compatibility between the donor and the recipient is one of the major determinants of transplant outcome. Therefore, HLA typing plays an important role in organ transplantation.Objective: 142 cord blood samples, which were registered at the Cord blood bank of Iran at HORC-BMT center, were subjected to low-resolution DNA typing for HLA-A, -B and -C. Methods: Genomic DNA was prepared and HLA class I was determined by the Sequence-specific Oligonucleotide Probes (SSOP-PCR). Results: A total of 284 HLA-A alleles were identified of which, A*02 and A*24 were the most common. Among 284 HLA-B and HLA-C alleles, B*35, B*51, Cw*4 and Cw*12 were the most frequent alleles in the studied population. Conclusion: Amplification of HLA loci with PCR-SSOP has proved to be a rapid and accurate method for HLA-A, -B and –C genotyping.