Expression of TRPV1 receptors increased in hippocampus following pentylenetetrazole-induced kindling in male rats

Background: The exact pathogenesis of epilepsy is not clear well. Recent studies showed the possible involvement of transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) receptors in this disease. Objectives: The aim of this study was to measure the expression of TRPV1 receptors in hippocampus following pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced kindling in male rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 14 male Wistar rats were allocated into two groups of experimental and control (seven rats in each group). The kindling group received a subconvulsive dose of PTZ (35 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) every 48 hours for 15 sessions, while the control rats were injected with an equal dose of saline. At the end of the injections, rats were decapitated, and their brains were removed. TRPV1 receptor expression in hippocampus region was assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction method. Results: The results of the current study showed that expressions of TRPV1 receptors were increased in hippocampus following PTZ-induced kindling in male rats. Conclusions: Since the expression of TRPV1 receptors increased in hippocampus of epileptic rats, the TRPV1 receptors may be good candidates for epilepsy treatment. � 2016, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

The effect of IFN-β 1a on expression of MDA5 and RIG-1 in multiple sclerosis patients

The aims of this study were to compare mRNA levels of melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5) and retinoic acid-inducible gene 1 (RIG-1) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in comparison to the healthy controls as well as investigating the effects of IFN-β 1a on the expression of these molecules. In this study, mRNA levels of MDA5 and RIG-1 in peripheral leukocytes of 30 new cases of MS patients and 35 healthy controls were evaluated using the real-time-PCR method. mRNA levels of MDA5 and RIG-1 were determined in the MS patients 6 months after treatment with standard doses of IFN-β 1a. mRNA levels of MDA5 and RIG-1 were significantly decreased in the MS patients in comparison to the healthy controls. The analysis also revealed that IFN-β 1a therapy leads to the upregulation of RIG-1, but not MDA5, in the total MS patients and the female group. MS patients suffer from insufficient expression of MDA5 and RIG-1, and IFN-β 1a therapy results in the upregulation of RIG-1 in the patients, especially in the female patients. Thus, it seems that IFN-β 1a not only decreased pathogenic inflammatory responses but also modulated the expression of RIG-1 to protect the patients from infectious diseases and upregulation of IFN-I in a positive feedback. © 2020 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc

Murine leukocytes stimulation by Toxoplasma gondii antigens induces high level of IFN-γ production

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an obligate intracellular parasitic protozoan, infecting a wide range of warm-blooded vertebrates. It is important for T. gondii to balance the response between cellular and humoral immune system for various aspects of its own survival. The aim of this study was to determine the level of IFN-γ and IL-4 production by murine peritoneal leukocytes stimulated with T. gondii lysate antigens (TLAs), excretory/secretory antigens (ESAs), and a combination of them (TLAs:ESAs). TLAs, ESAs, and TLA + ESA, considered as the experimental groups, were prepared and used to stimulate murine peritoneal leukocytes. The level of the IFN-γ and IL-4 secreted by the stimulated leukocytes was measured. In addition, untreated and phytohemagglutinin-treated groups were considered as negative and positive controls, respectively. As compared to the negative control, the level of IL-4 was lower in each of the experimental groups (P 0.05). Moreover, there was a significant difference for the level of IFN-γ between each of the experimental groups and both negative and positive controls (P < 0.05). The findings showed that the antigens of T. gondii were able to increase the IFN-γ production and decrease the level of IL-4 production. © 2020, Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature