The presence of autoantibodies to cytoplasmic rod and ring particles in the serum of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Background: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) is associated with extra hepatic autoimmune disorders, while peg-IFNa-2a/RBV combination therapy may exacerbate these conditions. Autoantibodies to cytoplasmic structures, called rod and ring particles (RR), have strong associations with these patients and are identified by HEp-2 cells. Objectives: Our purpose was to study the correlation of autoantibodies to cytoplasmic rod and ring particles in the serum of patients with chronic HCV infection with their response to standard therapy. Methods: Serum samples were gathered from 120 patients with HCV infection (40 naive treatments, 40 with sustained virological response (SVR), and 40 with relapse response) during peg-IFNa-2a/RBV combination therapy and analyzed for the presence of RR antibodies by IIF on commercially available HEp-2 cell substrate slides from Euroimmun (Lu beck, Germany). Results: Anti-rod and ring (anti-RR) autoantibodies were detected in only the serum of 1 out of 120 patients (0.8), which belonged to a patient (out of 40) with relapse response (2.5). No correlation was found between the types of response to peg-IFNa-2a/RBV combination therapy and the presence of anti-RR autoantibodies. Conclusions: The only HCV patient with RR autoantibodies previously had received IFN/ribavirin antiviral therapy. The presence of these autoantibodies is extremely rare in Iranian HCV patients. Further studies are warranted to determine the role of genetic background and geographical pattern in the prevalence of these novel autoantibodies worldwide. � 2016, Kowsar Corp

Supplementary Material for: Immunotherapy with a Recombinant Hybrid Molecule Alleviates Allergic Responses More Efficiently than an Allergenic Cocktail or Pollen Extract in a Model of <b><i>Chenopodium album</i></b> Allergy

<b><i>Background:</i></b> The aim of this study is to assess the therapeutic potential of a recombinant hybrid molecule (rHM) alongside an allergenic cocktail from recombinant wild-type allergens as well as pollen extract on <i>Chenopodium album</i> allergy, using a BALB/c mouse model. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The BALB/c mice had already been sensitized to <i>C. album</i> via intraperitoneal injections of alum-adsorbed allergenic cocktail and immunotherapy procedure was followed by subcutaneous injections of the rHM, allergenic cocktail and pollen extract at weekly intervals. Humoral immune responses were determined via measurement of specific antibodies in serum. Splenocytes of immunized mice were stimulated in vitro and then proliferation responses, cytokine secretion and mRNA expression of genes involved in immunotherapy were examined by ELISA and real-time PCR. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Sensitized mice were identified with high specific IgE against allergenic cocktail when compared with healthy mice. Immunotherapy with the rHM induced the highest ratio of the IgG2a/IgG1 levels compared to allergenic cocktail or <i>C. album</i> pollen extract. The rHM was able to induce proliferative responses as well as the allergenic cocktail in cultured splenocytes. Immunotherapy with the rHM significantly improved secretion of IFN-γ and IL-10, while secretion of IL-13 rapidly diminished. Interestingly, mRNA expression of GATA3 was strongly decreased in rHM-treated mice whereas mRNA expression of T-bet and Foxp3 was significantly increased. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Our results prove that immunotherapy with the rHM effectively controlled allergic responses by shifting from a Th2-like immune response to a Th1-dominated immune response